Aperitivo hour in Italy marks the point where afternoon slides into evening. The change of pace is marked with snacks, conversation and a few cocktails. Bittersweet aperitivi like the Aperol Spritz are ideal for refreshing the palate and sharpening up the appetite before dinner. One of the best things about this extended family of cocktails is that they’re easy to recreate at home.

Pick up a bottle of vermouth, a bottle of bitters and a few drinks cupboard essentials and you unlock a world of different combinations – enough to keep your aperitivo hour fresh all summer long. Whether you’re wondering how to make the perfect Negroni or you’re looking for new variations on aperitivo classics, we have everything you need to get started.

Not to be confused with the bitters you add by the dash to an Old Fashioned, these are ‘potable bitters’ which are more like liqueurs. Bittersweet amari – singularised as amaro – have been a part of life in Italy for centuries. These herbal infusions were traditionally taken around to food to aid digestion, but in the 19th century their complex botanical profiles found new purpose in the cocktail bar. In fact, it was the ancient Venetian practice of taking bitters with a little wine that paved the way for the Spritz we know and love today.

Once you’ve got your vermouth and your bitters, you’ll need a few other ingredients to pad out your repertoire of aperitivi. Soda water is good to have on hand for long drinks, as is a bottle of sparkling wine-or-two for Spritz. Like the vermouth and bitters, each of these elements is customisable to your tastes.