Bubbly and Bittersweet: An Aperol Spritz Mocktail
An Aperol spritz might be the most photogenic drink on the planet — that glowing orange color in a big wine glass just says “we are doing something nice today.” Whether you’re drawn in by the actual flavor or you’ve simply always wanted to be the person holding one of these on a patio somewhere, this mocktail version gets you there.
Pregnant, sober, not drinking tonight, or just craving something bubbly without the buzz — it doesn’t matter why you’re here, and I’m not going to ask. What matters is that this still tastes bittersweet, bright, and just a little sophisticated, the same way the original does.
I keep the components for this one ready to go most summer weekends, since half my guests usually want the alcohol-free version anyway. It’s become such a regular in my own rotation that I sometimes forget it ever had Aperol in it to begin with.
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Want more bubbly, low-key-celebration sips? Take a look at our mocktail recipes collection.
How to Rebuild That Bittersweet Flavor
Aperol’s whole personality comes from a bittersweet combination of orange and herbal bitterness, balanced against sugar. Plain orange juice on its own reads as, well, orange juice — so a splash of grapefruit juice is what brings back that grown-up bitter edge.
As for the Prosecco, its main job is dryness and bubbles rather than big flavor, which is why a chilled sparkling white grape juice (cut with a touch of lemon so it doesn’t taste like a juice box) makes such a good stand-in.
Equipment You Will Need
- A large stemmed wine glass
- A jigger or measuring cup
- A paring knife for the orange garnish
Aperol Spritz Mocktail
A bright, bittersweet, completely alcohol-free spin on the classic Italian spritz.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
2 oz fresh orange juice
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 oz simple syrup, plus more to taste
3 oz chilled sparkling white grape juice
1 oz club soda
1 orange slice, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Add the orange juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently.
- Top with the sparkling white grape juice, then finish with a splash of club soda.
- Garnish with an orange slice and serve right away, before the bubbles fade.
Notes
- Taste before adding all the simple syrup — grapefruit juices vary quite a bit in tartness.
- This one is best made fresh per glass rather than batched, since the bubbles won’t hold in a pitcher.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
A Few Notes on Substitutions
- Grapefruit juice is your Aperol stand-in. It’s carrying the bitterness that orange juice alone can’t provide — don’t skip it, or this turns into a glorified mimosa.
- If you can find them, Italian non-alcoholic bitters like Crodino or Sanbittèr (both available on Amazon and in some specialty grocers) get you even closer to the real Aperol flavor — swap in 2 oz of either in place of the grapefruit juice and syrup.
- Use a dry sparkling white grape juice if you can find one. If yours is on the sweeter side, add an extra squeeze of lemon to keep it from skewing too juice-like.
For more sparkling, low-key-celebration sips, try our Peach Bellini Mocktail, or browse our full mocktail collection.
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