Non Alcoholic Aperol Spritz
A bittersweet, sparkling mocktail that nails the citrus-and-amaro profile of the Italian original. Three routes: Lyres Italian Spritz, Ghia, or a pantry-only fallback -- no specialty store required.
Servings 1 glass
Calories 85kcal
Cost Under $5
Equipment
- 1 Large balloon wine glass or goblet
- 1 Jigger or measuring cup
- 1 Bar spoon
- 1 Citrus juicer or hand squeezer
Ingredients
Build
- 2 oz non-alcoholic Italian aperitif (Lyres Italian Spritz recommended) Ghia or Wilfreds Bittersweet Aperitif also work -- see article for full comparison
- 1 oz fresh orange juice Squeezed same day -- Cara Cara or navel, about 1/2 an orange. No bottled juice.
- 3 oz sparkling water, ice cold Open the bottle at pour time -- pre-opened water goes flat
- 3-4 large clear ice cubes Large cubes melt slower than crushed ice
Garnish
- 1 orange wheel or half-moon orange slice Fresh, cut same day
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary Lay across the rim -- aromatic oils enhance every sip
Instructions
Prep
- Place a large balloon wine glass in the freezer for 5 minutes, or fill it with ice water and discard before building the drink.
- Cut a fresh orange in half and squeeze. You need 1 oz -- roughly 1/2 an orange depending on size. Do not use bottled orange juice.
- Open the sparkling water bottle at pour time, not in advance. Pre-opening allows carbonation to escape before it reaches the glass.
Assemble
- Add 3-4 large clear ice cubes to the chilled glass.
- Measure 2 oz of Lyres Italian Spritz (or your chosen NA aperitif) and pour over the ice.
- Pour 1 oz of fresh-squeezed orange juice directly over the aperitif. Do not stir yet.
- Slowly pour 3 oz of ice-cold sparkling water down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation.
- Give one or two gentle passes with a bar spoon from the bottom upward -- just enough to combine without killing the fizz.
- Perch an orange wheel on the rim. Lay a sprig of fresh rosemary across the top. Serve immediately while carbonation is at its peak.
Notes
Squeeze orange juice the same hour you serve -- bottled juice kills the brightness. Open sparkling water at pour time, not in advance. Pantry-only fallback: use 1 oz fresh orange juice + 0.5 oz white grapefruit juice + 0.25 oz simple syrup + 4 drops NA aromatic bitters in place of the aperitif. Batch version: triple the recipe in a chilled carafe and add sparkling water per glass at pour time.
