Pastis Spritz

This Pastis Spritz is a bright, savory spin on the classic French apéritif, where the licorice warmth of pastis meets the effortless buoyancy of a spritz. Instead of leaning on heavy bitters or orange liqueurs, this recipe highlights herbal aromatics—fresh thyme and a lemon twist—to lift and focus the anise while chilled sparkling wine and soda keep the texture fizz-forward and refreshing. A light splash of simple syrup softens the sharper edges of brands like Ricard without turning the drink sweet, preserving that saline, slightly savory profile that makes pastis such an interesting base spirit.

Designed for warm evenings and relaxed aperitivo hours, the proportions are intentionally modest so the anise is present but approachable across multiple pours. Choose a drier sparkling wine—Prosecco for floral brightness or Cava for toasty minerality—and pour slowly to protect the bubbles; that contrast between lively effervescence and pastis’s slightly viscous mouthfeel is the cocktail’s charm. Serve in chilled large wine or rocks glasses with plenty of ice, and tweak the simple syrup or pastis quantity to match your sparkling wine and personal taste.