Review: Ghia Le Spritz Ghia-Soda
As a lover of the Aperol Spritz, I totally get this drink. I love it. I would buy it again. If you need additional proof, I was looking at the subscription options before I even finished the can.
Before I continue the review, let me take a brief ~intermission~ for anyone wondering WTF Aperol is:
Aperol is THE aperitif known for its vibrant orange color (even if you don’t know it, you’ve 100% seen someone drinking it) and distinct bittersweet (more bitter than sweet) flavor. It was created and first became popular in Italy. Years later, the Aperol Spritz cocktail was born, which adds Prosecco and sometimes club soda, depending on who’s bartending (i.e. if it’s me, I do not) to the mix. This deliciously dangerous cocktail then gained international recognition and made its way across Europe and to the US.
Now back to the review! The Ghia Soda is definitely a sip and savor kind of drink. It tastes sweet going down and then the bitter aftertaste makes you crave that next sip. It’s slightly carbonated from the spritz part of the cocktail, but nowhere near as carbonated as sparkling wines or seltzers. The biggest difference between this cocktail and an Aperol Spritz is the color and perhaps the level of fruitiness that accompanies the bitterness. I would say Aperol is a bit more fruity, with Ghia’s non-alcoholic version being more earthy.
I would recommend serving this on the rocks (even if it is already chilled), as pictured. I would also consider adding additional parts ‘spritz,’ if you aren’t as accustomed to bitter cocktails or even a fruit garnish for flare.
Ghia also sells the aperitif by itself, so you could also drink it straight or make your own DIY spritz. Ghia’s website’s recommended ratio is 1 part aperitif, 3 parts bubbles, with the bubbles being anything you want. The website specifies sparkling water, tonic, or even kombucha. I would personally take it a step further and use non-alcoholic sparkling wine, perhaps of the Prosecco variety… That could just be the traditionalist, Aperol Spritz lover in me talking, BUT I do think a drink like this could benefit from the bubbles being a bit sweeter than sparkling water or tonic, especially if you’re new to more bitter cocktails.
Overall, I am now officially a Ghia customer! Personally, I would lean towards buying the aperitif by itself, so I have creative control of my spritz. However, I am excited to try the rest of the variety pack - more reviews to come!
Ratings: 9/10 (Liv), 8/10 (Matthew - Boyfriend), 7/10 (Wendy - Boyfriend’s Mother)
Price: $20.00 (for the Le Spritz Variety 4-pack)
Store: Target