Aperol

The gentlest way in. Aperol is bright orange, sweet-leaning and just 11% alcohol in its current bottling, built on sweet and bitter orange with gentian, cinchona bark and rhubarb. The Barbieri brothers launched it in Padua in 1919. Its real job is the Spritz: three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part soda over plenty of ice, with an orange slice. Neat it tastes a little like candied peel, which is fine on ice but not much more. If the Spritz starts to feel too sweet, that is your cue to move a step down this list to Select or Campari.