Franklin & Sons: Pioneers of flavour with the spritz

Founded in 1886, after a trip across the Atlantic to discover what prohibition-era Americans were drinking if not alcohol, Franklin & Sons are award-winning independent creators of mixers, with an ethos rooted in flavour discovery and exploration. It’s this curiosity that drives the brand forward; the team continually experiment with new flavours before adding expressions, such as their fiery yet citrusy Mandarin & Ginger Soda or their sweet while smoky Pineapple and Almond Soda, to the lineup.

What may surprise you then is the brands focus across the year. The spritz. A serve that’s quickly risen through the ranks in recent years, thanks to a brilliant, close association with a certain product, a certain sunset hue, and a magic 3:2:1 ratio formula.

It wasn’t always this way.

The spritz originated in northern Italy, in the Veneto region, with a history that can be traced back to the 19th century, when the region was under the rule of the Austrian Empire.

During this time, Austrian soldiers stationed in the Veneto region found the local wines too strong for their taste. To make the wine more palatable, they started diluting it with water, creating a drink they called "Spritzer," derived from the German word "spritzen” - which means "to spray" or "splash" some sparkling water into the wine, resulting in a lighter and less alcoholic drink.

As the cocktail evolved, it adapted to the Italian taste and ingredients. The original Spritzer made with white wine gradually shifted to become the spritz that many know, incorporating Italian bitter liqueur Aperol, as well as Campari, which added a vibrant orange-red colour and a bittersweet flavour to the drink. The cocktail was then officially named "Aperol Spritz" or "Spritz Veneziano" and the characteristic orange hue and effervescence has remained top-of-mind when selecting this serve ever since.

Since then, the spritz cocktail has gained popularity beyond Italy and become a go-to for leisurely afternoons and socializing. Its low alcohol content and refreshing taste make it the perfect choice for warm weather and as a sunset aperitif before meals.

And the spritz is just that – a moment before dinner, a relaxing afternoon watching the world go by, a concept rather than a set formula. And while bars should stick to key serves including the Aperol spritz, there’s growing appetite for more and more concept driven spritz serves incorporating many different modifiers.

This is the point where Franklin & Sons have elevated the classic spritz a step further. Across a remarkable summer of spritz, the mixer brand has taken the founding concept of the spritz and run with it, throwing in various expressions and modifiers while retaining that original “spritzen” concept.

James Stimson, the Senior Brand Manager at Franklin & Sons notes: “We’ve had a hugely busy summer, pioneering new spritz serves across the category, and sharing remarkable combinations of flavour that you may not have experienced before in a spritz serve.

“Ultimately, the spritz is the perfect expression for exploring these different combinations. With a base of just three ingredients, complex flavours can be combined in a way that’s still easy to understand and digest.”

At the heart of Franklin & Sons experimentation sits their flavour range of sodas. The dual-flavoured expressions showcased by the brand are the perfect modifiers to take the moment and concept of a spritz and mix up the ultimate experimental serve.

Here are five serves that you can make that capture the lightning of Franklin & Sons remarkable summer of spritz in your glass

Orange and ginger spritz with Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda

A drink that will transport you to a sunny Venetian veranda. It is bitter-sweet and balanced, long and refreshing, and perfect for lifting spirits and toasting ‘good health’.

Ingredients
o 30ml Martini Fiero
o 50ml prosecco
o 20ml freshly squeezed orange
o 50ml Franklin & Sons Mandarin & Ginger Soda
o Orange peel (to garnish)

Method
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add all the ingredients. Gently stir and top with more ice if required. Garnish with an orange peel.

Raspberry and pineapple spritz with Franklin & Sons Pineapple & Almond Soda

Take a trip down memory lane with Franklin & Sons raspberry and pineapple spritz, a refreshing and nostalgic cocktail that will transport your back in time with every sip. This spritz will leave you craving twists on classic cocktails from the past.

Ingredients
o 25ml Chambord raspberry liqueur
o 50ml white wine
o 75ml Franklin & Sons Pineapple & Almond Soda
o Lime peel (to garnish)

Method
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add all the ingredients. Gently stir and top with more ice if required. Garnish with a lime peel to serve.

Paloma spritz with Franklin & Sons Pink Grapefruit Soda

If you’re looking for a twist on a classic Paloma… Franklin & Sons have you covered. The Paloma spritz combines the citrusy flavours from Franklin & Sons Grapefruit Soda with the herbaceous complexity of red vermouth to create a complex and refreshing summer tipple.

Ingredients
o 30ml Patron silver tequila
o 15ml fresh lime juice
o 30ml Cocchi Americano
o 75ml Franklin & Sons Grapefruit Soda
o Grapefruit peel (to garnish)

Method
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add all the ingredients. Gently stir and top with more ice if required. Garnish with a grapefruit peel to serve.

No Sin Spritz with Franklin & Sons Guava & Lime Soda

A zero ABV serve championing one of the originators of the ‘no ABV spirit’ movement. Fragrant, spiced and fresh for the ‘no ABV’ drinker or someone looking for something different.

Ingredients
o 50ml Seedlip Spice 94
o 25ml fresh grapefruit juice
o 75ml Franklin & Sons Guava & Lime Soda
o Slice of grapefruit (to garnish)
o Slice of lime (to garnish)

Method
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add all the ingredients. Gently stir and top with more ice if required. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and a slice of lime to serve.

Elderflower spritz with Franklin & Sons Elderflower & Cucumber Tonic Water

Elderflower Spritz is a refreshing and delicate serve that captures the essence of a spring day in bloom. Elderflower is the star of the show combined with Franklin & Sons Elderflower & Cucumber Tonic Water to create a remarkable summer tipple.

Ingredients
o 30ml St Germain elderflower liqueur
o 65ml white wine
o 5ml fresh lemon
o 50ml Franklin & Sons Elderflower & Cucumber Tonic Water
o Slice of cucumber (to garnish)
o Lemon peel (to garnish)

Method
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add all the ingredients. Gently stir and top with more ice if required. Garnish with a slice of cucumber and a lemon peel.

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