‘A sure-fire summer hit': 10 refreshing alternatives to Aperol spritz
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Aperol spritz – the much-Instagrammed vibrant concoction of bitter Aperol with prosecco and soda over ice with a slice – has had us Britons in a chokehold for several summers now. But there's more to spritzing than our distinctive orange-hued friend, says Alessandro Botta, founder of Aperitivo Club: 'At Aperitivo Club we don't see the spritz as a trend, but as a timeless tradition that encourages people to slow down, savour the moment and enjoy it together.'
So what are the key components of a traditional Italian spritz to be served at aperitivo hour? 'An aperitivo spritz should be light, refreshing and made with prosecco,' says Botta.
It's also deeply rooted in place, with each variation reflecting local flavours and traditions. In Padua, it's made with Aperol; in Milan, Campari; in Venice with Select (a juniper-based, floral aperitif); in Naples with limoncello; and in Trentino-Alto Adige, where elderflower and alpine botanicals abound, the Hugo Spritz (made of prosecco, soda, elderflower liqueur and mint).
Italians are characteristically traditional with their spritzes, generally sticking to the components of prosecco, soda and some kind of liqueur. Across Europe the love for a pre-dinner low-ish-alcohol drink continues with a wider brief; in France pastis and Pernod are diluted with water for a longer, lighter serve, and the deliciously classic kir royale is common at this hour; while in Spain you'll see vermouth and soda; and Portugal's light and bright port and tonic fits the mould too.
For the purposes of this piece, we'll keep things fairly traditional, with components of these spritzes similar to their Italian inspiration. All of my recommended serves are effervescent, wine-based and tend towards a botanical aspect; most have soda water in the mix, too. They all also drink best from a large wine glass over plenty of ice with good, salted crisps on the side. I've kept things on the lower-ABV side; the early evening drink is best kept to mid-strength to avoid spoiling proceedings later in the night, after all.
Here are my favourite twists on the spritz to get your summer aperitivo hours off to the most sparkling start.
Bellamie cherry liqueur aperitif, 70cl
£34.99 at Drink Supermarket
Not keen on the bitter, herbal liqueurs so commonly used when aperitivo rolls around? Try a cherry spritz made in the French aperitif style: Bellamie cherry liqueur aperitif makes for a fruitier and sweeter spritz when mixed with prosecco and soda, but brings a lovely tartness to take the edge off. On the menu at the original Ivy, it's made in Kent using real cherry blossom, cherry fruit and cherry stones, and is free from artificial colours and flavours despite its beautiful deep garnet hue.
Garnish with a stick of good green olives – the umami, briny flavour really makes the cherries pop – and enjoy alongside salty snacks.
Limoncé limoncello, 50cl
£16.88 at Master of Malt£16.05 at Amazon
I developed a love for limoncello spritzes when I visited the Amalfi coast; all over the lemon-growing south of Italy, this is an aperitivo equally as popular as the Aperol spritz and even more refreshing. Try with Limoncé limoncello, one of Italy's top limoncello brands, which uses only Sicilian femminello lemons, handpicked in winter. Serve one part Limoncé to two parts soda over ice in a large wine glass and top up with chilled prosecco for citrusy spritz heaven. A scoop of lemon sorbet has been known to find its way into mine, too, which is the ultimate in naughty summer refreshment or a perfectly acceptable pudding alternative.
Italicus rosolio di bergamotto, 70cl
£31.50 at Master of Malt£27.50 at Waitrose Cellar
Not just a beautiful bottle, Italicus rosolio di bergamotto is a bergamot-based liqueur using native Italian botanicals. It's made to an original 1850s recipe for aperitivo di corte (royal aperitivo), so named as it was the tipple of choice for the king of Savoia. Today it's still widely enjoyed across Italy, with its gently floral citrusy profile working wonders when splashed into a glass of iced prosecco. Hold the soda, though: Italicus isn't as bitter as many aperitivo, so doesn't need further dilution. Garnish with three green olives.
Bolney Estate English garden spritz, 75cl
£16.95 at Slurp£17 at Bolney Wine Estate
I came across this delicious spritz during my quest for the best mid-strength drinks. Indeed, the beauty of so many spritzes is that they fit into that mid-alcohol zone – this one is a very civilised 6%. This ready-to-drink spritz is crafted from the Sussex Bolney Wine Estate's 2022 chardonnay-based white vermouth and the estate's own kitchen garden botanicals. Think tart, juicy grapefruit and native English florals, blending sweet and bitter flavours for a fresh and pretty aperitif.
Jawbox apple & ginger gin liqueur, 70cl
£25 at Tesco£25 at Amazon
Gin is a natural bedfellow for prosecco in a spritz, thanks to its juniper-led, piney bitterness, and a shot of your favourite stirred into an icy prosecco along with a dash of juice is a classic. This summer I'm into Jawbox apple & ginger gin liqueur (20% ABV as it's not straight spirit), which uses an unusual Belfast apple variety grown on the distillery's country estate. Use 500ml mixed with a bottle of prosecco and 250ml of soda in a giant jug for parties. Throw in plenty of lime wedges and fresh green apple slices to garnish.
Aperitivo Club Hugo Spritz
£7.98 for two cans at Aperitivo Club
St-Germain elderflower liqueur, 50cl
£26.50 at the Whisky Exchange£20 at Amazon
Northern Italians gave the classic St-Germain spritz an update in 2005 by including fresh lime and sprigs of mint to create the Hugo spritz. It's one of the most popular summer drinks in Europe at the moment and shows no sign of going anywhere; an ad campaign for St-Germain sees Sophie Turner sipping on a Hugo spritz in the south of France. Make your own using St-Germain or stock up on these dreamy aperitivo-ready cans for enjoying on the hop: the Hugo spritz is mixed to fresh and floral perfection.
Mirabeau x Fever Tree rose spritz, 75cl
£14.99 at the Bottle Club£15 at John Lewis
Sparkling wine is a key component of any spritz, but thinking pink can keep things interesting. This rose spritz from pale Provence rose peddlers Mirabeau went down very well with me at this year's Chelsea flower show. Its blend of French rose and Fever Tree's raspberry and orange blossom soda makes it a subtly fruity and afternoon-appropriate drink at a respectable 8.3%. I serve in flutes, Chelsea-style, or over ice with muddled raspberries – satisfying when you want a longer drink. Similarly, cava house Codorníu is now making a canned wine-based Codorníu Spritz infused with raspberry and hibiscus – perfect to pop in your bag for emergency summer spritzing.
Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka, 70cl
£34.99 at Master of Malt£39.94 at Amazon
London Essence Co white peach & jasmine soda, 150ml
£17.25 for 24 cans at the Whisky Exchange£4 for six cans at Amazon
The origins of aperitivo mean we tend to see European flavours, but why not harness the tropical flavours of Goan beach sundowners instead? Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka is on the menu in London restaurants such as Hoppers and Benares, and swirling a shot into a standard Aperol spritz gives it a heavily fragrant south Asian makeover that I find far more tempting than the original iteration. I'm also a fan of increasing the desi flavours further with 25ml of Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka, 25ml sauvignon blanc and 100ml of London Essence Co white peach & jasmine soda, served over ice and garnished with a fresh curry leaf.
Nozeco spritz, 75cl
£3.32 at Asda£19.50 for six at Amazon
Sober people like to spritz too, and this ready-to-drink 0% alternative is lovely enough to be enjoyed in its own right. The Nozeco spritz has just won a prestigious IWSC gold award, with judges citing the alcohol-removed wine and natural orange blend as a 'delightful medley of orange peel, rhubarb and a hint of rose, complemented by herbal rosemary'. They said it has a 'lively acidity, culminating in a refreshing crisp finish that lingers with a pleasing bitterness'. They're right; my testers and I agree it's a sure-fire summer hit and a bargain to boot.
Monin rhubarb syrup, 70cl
£9.33 at Master of Malt
Ask a bartender the flavour of the moment and they'll likely say rhubarb. I recently enjoyed a divine fig and rhubarb spritz (vodka, fig liqueur, rhubarb syrup, lime and soda) at Caravan, while Bar Termini's popular Spritz Termini comprises gin, rhubarb, Aperol and prosecco. Monin's classic rhubarb syrup is a simple way to make all manner of on-trend cocktails, particularly the classic spritz: mix 20ml of Monin rhubarb with 120ml of sparkling wine and 60ml of soda, then stir with ice and garnish with lemon. It's light and summery without going down the more predictable berry or citrus route. For something harder, I like to swap the soda for a shot of gin.
Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance
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