I tried supermarket Aperol dupes – my £7 winner tastes exactly the same and makes the perfect summer cocktail

Scottish Sun

07-06-2025

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PUTTING ON THE SPRITZ I tried supermarket Aperol dupes – my £7 winner tastes exactly the same and makes the perfect summer cocktail
IF there's one drink that embodies summer, it's the Aperol Spritz.
And with temperatures set to soar in the UK, now is the time to pour yourself a tangy, crisp and refreshing, tangerine-tinted aperitif.
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Consumer journalist, Lynsey Hope, put Aperol dupes to the test
A bottle of the original tipple will now set you back around £18 depending on where you shop.
So, of course, the high-price tag has prompted some supermarkets to introduce their own, cheaper versions.
But are they going to hit the spot on a sunny day?
Aperol Aperitivo Italian Spritz (70cl)
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Aperol Aperitivo Italian Spritz was not Lynsey's favourite
£17.65, ocado.com
ABV: 11 per cent
At nearly £18, this market-leading aperitif is the priciest on my list but if you stick to the recommended measurements you will get 20 servings out of it, so I still didn't think it was too bad in terms of value for money.
It has that distinctive luminous orange colour and I very much enjoyed my tipple.
It has a more natural and herbaceous taste than some of the 'dupes', which I enjoyed.
Worth mentioning also that it's fairly low on booze with an ABV of 11 per cent.
Fragrant and moreish - but surprisingly, it wasn't my favourite.
Taste: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 8/10
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Orange Spritz Aperitif (75cl)
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Lynsey thought Sainsbury's version was refreshing
ABV: 8 per cent
£6.50, sainsburys.co.uk
Light and easy to drink, I found this refreshing and very easy to knock back on a summer's day.
I tested all the supermarket Aperol knock-offs and the best was a THIRD of the price of real thing
It was much fizzier than the big brand and whilst I enjoyed the taste, it did have a slightly bitter aftertaste.
It's not as boozy as the original but it's over £11 cheaper so a very wallet-friendly tipple AND a bigger bottle."
Taste: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall score: 7/10
Lidl Bitterol (70cl)
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The Lidl Bitterol Aperitivo scored the highest
£6.99, lidl.co.uk
ABV: 11 per cent
An almost exact copy of the original Aperol.
It has the same glowing, blood-orange huge and a same 11ABV.
Made up into the classic Spritz cocktail, the taste really hits the spot, with the familiar rhubarb, fruity and woody notes that sit somewhere between sweet and sharp in the glass.
Served over ice with prosecco and soda, it's really hard to tell the difference between this and the original - except at the till where it's less than half the price.
Definitely worth stocking up for summer.
Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Overall score: 10/10
Aldi Aperini Aperitivo Spritz (75cl)
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Aldi's drink was a close competitor
£4.29, aldi.co.uk
ABV: 6.9 per cent
One sip of this and I very nearly thought I was drinking the real deal.
It's not as boozy with a low 6.9 ABV and the orange colour is much lighter.
It was quite sugary and the texture was a little more syrupy than the others.
But it had the full and vibrant taste of the branded drink. Loved the bursts of citrus and rhubarb. It's only a little over £4 - amazing value.
Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Overall score: 9/10
Casa Savoia Americano Rosso (50cl)
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The Savoia Americano Rosso is more expensive than the original
£22.25, masterofmalt.com
ABV: 18.6 per cent
It's more expensive than the original but this comes in a super pretty bottle and would make a lovely gift.
It's mixed so you only need to add the prosecco and ice to make your aperitif. It can also be used to make negronis if you prefer.
The bitter sweet flavours are perfectly balanced with notes of bitter orange, cassia, cinnamon, rhubarb and a whole host of other botanicals.
Really enjoyed this and nice that it's so versatile. It's not a big bottle and I definitely would have liked more of it.
Taste: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 8/10
M&S Low Alcohol Aperitivo (50cl)
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M&S offers a low alcohol alternative
£13, ocado.com
ABV: 0.5 per cent
For a low alcohol alternative, I really enjoyed this. It had subtle flavours of juniper, pink pepper, coriander, cinnamon and lavender.
The flavours were quite smoky and it wasn't overly sweet like many of the low alcohol drinks on offer.
Refreshing, with a hint of vanilla. Loved this with soda or low-alcohol Prosecco.
Taste: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 6/10
Tesco Spritzi Aperitivo Blood Orange (75cl)
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Tesco offers an affordable price point
£5, tesco.com
ABV: 8.4 per cent
A zesty white wine-based drink which is pre-mixed so you don't have the faff of mixing it up on your own.
It's quite aromatic with floral notes but more subtle in flavour than the Aperol.
It was missing a bit of juiciness and a bit of punch and I thought it tasted artificially sweet.
A good price at Tesco though and a decent helping of booze.
Taste: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall score: 7/10