With the rate at which Italian-style aperitivo drinks have been taking over the world (and the internet), it's no surprise that some imbibers have been doing a deeper dive into the country's cocktail canon. While the and seem to have the current claim to aperitivo-hour supremacy, there's a strong case to be made for adding the refreshing bicicletta to your menu. Although, at a glance, the Aperol spritz and bicicletta may seem very similar (they share the same core ingredients: wine, club soda, and a bitter liqueur, all served over ice), two key differences set them apart.
In the former drink, you're using the namesake Aperol, along with Prosecco (or another sparkling wine in a pinch). In the case of the bicicletta, the bitter element is Aperol's crimson cousin, Campari, and instead of the bubbly Prosecco, it calls for a dry white wine. These subtle differences may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things when crafting a cocktail, but they result in deliciously unique drinks.
How these differences effect your drink Much has been made of the differences between Aperol and Campari (beyond their distinctive colors: orange and red, respectively). Aperol is on the sweeter side of the two, while Campari has more of a bitter edge that calls to mind grapefruit and citrus peels, so by extension, your bicicletta will have more of a bite. When it comes to the wine component, bicicletta recipes may suggest a Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or simply a "dry" white wine — preferabl.