Drink of the Week: Le Moné Aperitif

In the throes of a stubborn heat wave, one of the only things I want in my glass is an ice-cold, low-ABV spritz. They’re easy to make and to drink, and make even the stickiest summer evening a little bit breezier. Lately, I’ve been making spritzes with Le Moné aperitif wine from New York’s Finger Lakes region. Made with Meyer lemons and agave nectar, it’s tart and satisfyingly viscous, and the ABV clocks in at just 16%. It’s a versatile cocktail ingredient, too. I’ve substituted it for the triple sec in a batch of sangria and swapped it for the simple syrup in a French 75. 

But my favorite way to drink Le Moné is as a simple spritz. I fill a glass or jar with ice, splash in an ounce or two of Le Moné, then top with sparkling water. For a punchier spritz, you could also add a shot of vodka, gin, or tequila blanco. Would that change it from a spritz to a long drink? Maybe. But, as my colleagues point out in the July/August 2024 issue of Imbibe, the spritz rubric is ripe for customization. 

It’s a good point: From Negroni variations to Martini riffs, the best cocktails are often iterative. Besides, it’s too hot outside to argue. drinklemone.com, $35