It’s the return of the Friday Night Cocktail, however, it seemed better to put this out earlier in the week, so that if you decide it looks good, you can make sure you have everything you need before Friday!

I’ve done aperol spritzes twice before, here and here, but that was back in 2012 and 2013 and curiously, although I drink them in the summer, I seem only to make them at home in the autumn and winter, probably because the colour of them cheers me up! Over the last year it’s felt that Aperol Spritzes are everywhere but I think might be because I have a colleague, the lovely Charlotte my quiz team buddy, who’s very keen on them, so I pretty much end up drinking them every time I go out for a work event!On Saturday night, I wanted a drink before dinner because I was feeling miserable and full of cold.* and the joy of making drinks at home is that you can adapt them to make them a little bit different or more suitable to your needs. I’ve always preferred to add some orange juice to a spritz but right now this is how I’m making them, which is a longer drink and very refreshing and soothing when you have a bit of a sore throat.

Fill a large wine glass (this is a 500ml glass) with ice. Pour in 1.5 oz of aperol, 2.5 oz prosecco, the juice of half a clementine and then top up with Marks and Spencer’s Lemon, Lime and Mint Soda. Garnish with the other half of the clementine.

*Yes another buggering one! And so soon after having a stomach bug! Truly autumn loves to kick me when I’m down, can we all say comprised immune system?