Recently, I heard this story on NPR about “Beers with Beshear,” a “happy hour” centered around Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s daily Covid-19 briefings. So I decided to modify it for my own governor’s briefings and call it “Spritzers with Pritzker” or since it’s Twitter #spritzerswithPritzker.
On March 26, at 2:30pm, I mixed up a Campari Spritz for the Governor’s briefing. Every day since then, I’ve made some sort of Spritz cocktail (both alcoholic and spirit-free.) It’s given me something light to do every day, something to look forward to. It’s been nice to have a little routine that is forcing me to look at recipes and make something every day. Spritzes are perfect afternoon drinks because they typically have a low alcohol content and are apertifs, before-meal drinks that stimulate the appetite.
Yesterday, much to my shock, the governor gave me a shout-out at the beginning of his briefing! I couldn’t believe it! Because of a mix-up last summer where a local politician thought I was Adam (because my handle is @adamihasegawa,) I had my bio name written out as Adam I. Hasegawa, so the governor and everyone else thought I was a guy. (Since then, I’ve changed my name to #spritzerswithPritzker to stop the confusion.) But I came clean to WTTW when they interviewed me for this article. I also did a quick hit on Anna Davlantes’s show on WGN Radio. It’s been a fun few days chatting about cocktails.
So the pressure is on to keep up my project! I decided to create this page here where I can share some of the recipes all in one place. (I gave up after awhile, because I only have so much time!) For the complete list, search the #spritzerswithpritzker hashtag on Twitter, or find me over there (@adamihasegawa.) I highly recommend a little daily afternoon break, whether it’s a cup of tea, or a cocktail, or some fancy water. These are trying times and we need to take care of ourselves and of each other.
Campari Spritz
2oz sparkling wine
2oz Campari
1oz club soda
Build over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with an olive (traditional) or an orange if that’s all you have. (3/26)
Aperol Spritz
3oz sparkling wine
2oz Aperol
1oz club soda
Build over ice. Stir. Garnish with an orange wedge. (3/27)
White Wine Spritzer
3oz white wine
1oz club soda
Build over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with a fresh lime if you have one. (3/28)
Negroni Sbagliato
1oz sweet vermouth
1oz Campari
4oz sparkling wine
splash of club soda
Build over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange if you have it. (3/29)
Lemon Basil Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
Juice from a lemon wedge
A few basil leaves, torn
Sparkling water
Build over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon slice and a basil leaf. (3/30)
Bicicletta
1-2oz Campari
3oz dry white wine
Splash (or more) club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice. (3/31)
Grapefruit Ginger Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
Juice from 1/2 pink grapefruit
A few grates of fresh ginger
Club Soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir Gently. Garnish with a grapefruit peel, if you remember to save one. (4/1)
Cucumber Basil Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
4 slices cucumber
3 basil leaves
Club soda
Muddle cucumber slices. Tear basil leaves and add to glass with ice and club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a basil leaf and a cucumber slice. (4/2)
Aperol Betty
2oz Aperol
1oz orange juice, freshly squeezed
1/2oz grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
3oz Prosecco
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice if you remember to reserve one. (4/3)
Amaro Spritz
2oz Cynar*
3oz club soda
squeeze of fresh lemon
Build in a glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon peel and an olive if you have it.
*You can use any amaro you like. I’ll probably revisit this one with some other amaro in my cabinet. (4/4) 
Crimean Cocktail
2oz dry white wine
1oz Cointreau
1/2oz lemon juice
1oz club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with lemon. (4/5)
Blueberry Basil Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
Handful of blueberries
A few basil leaves, torn
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with some fresh basil. (4/6)
Lemon Mint Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
Juice 1/2 lemon
A few mint leaves
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Before adding the mint, bruise it a bit to release the oils. Stir gently. Garnish with a mint sprig. (4/7)
Cucumber Mint Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
Juice 1/2 lime
3-4 mint leaves
3 slices cucumber
Club soda
Add cucumbers to glass and lightly muddle. Tear mint leaves and add them to glass with lime juice and ice. Top with club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge (or a cucumber slice, or some mint…you can’t go wrong!) (4/8)
Lemon Thyme Spritz (Spirit-Free)
Juice 1/2 lemon
A few thyme leaves
Club soda
Gently muddle the thyme leaves. Add lemon juice, club soda, and ice. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon slice and thyme sprigs. (4/9)
Americano
1.5oz Campari
1.5 oz sweet vermouth
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice. (4/10)
Rome with a View
1oz Campari
1oz dry vermouth
1oz fresh lime juice
3/4oz simple syrup
club soda
Add Campari, vermouth, lime, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into glass of ice and top with club soda. Garnish with an orange wedge. (4/11)
Cold Brew Spritzer (Spirit-Free)
2-3oz cold brew coffee
4oz sparkling water
splash of cream and simple syrup to taste
Build in glass over ice. Garnish with an orange peel or a Peep. (4/12)
Spumoni
1.5oz Campari
2oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2oz tonic water
Shake Campari and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into glass with fresh ice. Top off with tonic. Garnish with an orange wedge. (4/13)
Strawberry Lemon Spritz (Spirit-Free)
2 strawberries, sliced
Juice from 1/4 lemon
Club soda
Muddle strawberries in glass. Add ice and lemon juice. Top with club soda and stir gently. Garnish with a strawberry or a lemon wheel. (4/14)
Raspberry Lime Spritz (Spirit-Free)
Handful of raspberries
Juice from 1/4 lime
Club soda
Muddle raspberries in the bottom of a glass. Add ice, lime juice, and club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge. (4/15)
Radical Row
1.5oz gin
.75oz honey rosemary syrup
1oz lemon juice
5oz club soda
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake gin, honey syrup, and lemon juice until chilled. Pour into glass over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel and rosemary sprig. (4/16)
Honey Rosemary Syrup
0.5 cup honey
0.5 cup water
3-4 sprigs rosemary
Heat honey and water on the stove until honey dissolves, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, add rosemary, and let cool. Remove rosemary after 20 minutes and chill before using. 
Winter Spritz
1.5oz pomegranate juice
1oz Aperol
4-5oz prosecco
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with orange slice and rosemary. (Toast to the April snow.) (4/17)
Spring Spritz
2oz Aperol
1oz grapefruit juice
2oz sparkling wine
Splash of club soda
Build in glass over ice. Top with sparkling wine and a splash of club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge. (4/18)
Recipe credit: Epicurious
Jasmine Spritz
1.5oz jasmine liqueur
2oz sparkling wine
2oz club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. (St. Germaine would also work if you don’t have jasmine liqueur.) (4/19)
Pomegranate Lime Spritz (Spirit-Free)
1-2oz pomegranate juice
Juice from 1-2 lime wedges
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with lime wedge. (4/20)
Paloma
2oz tequila
3oz grapefruit juice
1oz lime juice
Club soda
Salt
In a cocktail shaker with NO ice, shake tequila, grapefruit and lime juices until combined. Salt the rim of a glass, add ice, and pour in the cocktail shaker contents. Top with club soda. Garnish with lime. (4/21)
Earth Day Spritz (Spirit-Free)
1oz lemon juice
0.5oz honey syrup
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Top with club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon slice and thyme sprig. (4/22 Earth Day)
Southern Spritz
0.75oz whiskey
0.5 Tablespoon Campari
2.25 teaspoon lemon juice
2.25 teaspoon honey syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
1.5oz sparkling wine
Combine everything but the sparkling wine in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with sparkling wine. (4/23)
Recipe from George Dickel.
Tom Collins
1.5oz gin
1oz lemon juice
0.5oz simple syrup
3oz club soda
Build in a (Collins) glass over ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon and maraschino cherry. (4/24)
Rhubarb Spritz
1oz rhubarb liqueur
3oz white wine
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Top with club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon. (4/25)
Gin Rickey
2oz gin
0.5oz lime juice
Club soda
Build in glass over ice. Top with club soda. garnish with a lime wheel, or three. (4/26)
Wild Heart Cocktail
1.25oz Aperol
1.25oz dry vermouth
0.75oz lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Lemon soda
Shake Aperol, vermouth, lemon juice, and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a glass of ice. Top with lemon soda. Garnish with orange. (4/27)
Recipe from Epicurious.
Stay tuned for more Spritzes! And stay inside as much as you can. #AllInIllinois
kimberly ah 