Virgin Aperol Spritz
The Virgin Aperol Spritz is the alcohol-free take on Italy's most famous patio drink: the bittersweet orange glow, the mousseux fizz and the citrus finish, at less than 0.5% alcohol so you can pour a second round.
Ingredients
90 ml (3 oz) Non-Alcoholic Nozeco Sparkling Wine, well chilled
60 ml (2 oz) Non-Alcoholic Lyre's Italian Spritz
30 ml (1 oz) soda water
Garnish: a fresh orange slice, and plenty of ice
Preparation
Fill the glass: Pack a large wine glass with ice, right to the top. A cold glass keeps the spritz crisp instead of watery.
Build 3-2-1: Pour in the Nozeco first, then the Lyre's Italian Spritz, then the soda water. Three parts sparkling, two parts aperitif, one part soda is the classic ratio.
Garnish and serve: Give it one gentle stir, tuck in a fresh orange slice, and serve right away while the bubbles are lively.
Preparation advice
Pour the sparkling wine before the aperitif, so the bubbles lift the bitterness up through the glass instead of sinking it to the bottom.
Serve it in a large wine glass, not a flute. The wide bowl is what lets the orange aroma open up, and it is the shape that makes an Aperol spritz look like one.
Curious how the aperitif tastes on its own before you build with it? Our Lyre's Italian Spritz review breaks the flavour down in detail.