If the Aperol Spritz is your warm-weather happy hour drink, good news: the NA versions have gotten really good. Here are three of the best nonalcoholic Aperol Spritz drinks I tried, what makes each one different, and my favorite pick!
I looooove an Aperol Spritz. It’s funny that I didn’t even know about this drink a few years ago, and now you see them everywhere! (Even art prints, T-shirts, men’s shirts, totes, and slippers!!) If the Aperol Spritz is your warm-weather happy hour drink, you’re not alone. You can thank The White Lotus Season 2 for that (which is obviously the best season so far). Set in Sicily, the show featured the drink so prominently that Campari Group reported 50% US sales growth in 2022!
I’ve been exploring nonalcoholic wine and beers for a few years now, and due to the drink becoming more popular, you can now find quite a few nonalcoholic Aperol spritzes! The Aperol Spritz specifically is one of the most-searched mocktail swaps right now — and for good reason. The original is relatively low ABV, which means the flavor is delicate enough that a good NA version can actually get close.
I’ve long believed that bubbly NA drinks taste more authentic than still ones — the fizz adds that liveliness that tricks your palate into thinking something more interesting is happening. All three of these are sparkling, which is part of why they work so well. Pour them over ice and you’ve got a proper happy hour drink. (Drinking straight from the can works too.)
After trying several, here are the three I’d point you toward, all available through The Zero Proof.
What Makes a Good NA Aperol Spritz?
The original Aperol Spritz is bittersweet citrus, a little herbal, bubbly, and slightly sweet from the Prosecco. Most NA spritz alternatives nail the citrus and the fizz. Where they diverge is in the bitter complexity and how dry the finish is.
My Rankings: Three Nonalcoholic Spritzes Worth Trying
#1: De Soi Spritz Italiano
My top pick, as flagged as a bestseller by Zero Proof. De Soi nails the balance of bitter and orange the best. It feels genuinely like an aperitivo, not a mocktail. The bittersweet citrus is present and the herbal notes round it out without being overwhelming. Fun fact: De Soi is co-founded by Katy Perry!
The Spritz Italiano is built on white grape-grapefruit juice, gentian root, and a botanical blend that gives it real bittersweet character. What also sets it apart is the adaptogens including L-theanine, lion’s mane, and reishi mushroom, the same calming functional ingredients I’ve seen in Recess and other NA drinks I love. So there’s an actual functional component beyond just “tastes like Aperol.” This one also wins for me because it has the fewest calories and the sugar is from fruit.
Pour it in a wine glass over ice with an orange slice and it looks as good as it tastes.
Nutrition: 60 calories, 13g sugar (0g added sugar — all from fruit).
#2: Lyre’s Amalfi Spritz
This one is a close second! This one leans a little more bitter than the De Soi, and I noticed a slight tonic quality to it, which makes sense because it contains quinine, which is what gives tonic water its characteristic bite. If you love a G&T, you’ll probably love that about this one. If you’re expecting a pure orange sweetness, it might surprise you.
This is a ready-to-drink can — Lyre’s combined their NA Italian Spritz with their NA Classico (their Prosecco alternative which is also great!) According to their website, the flavor is bittersweet orange and ripe peach with rhubarb and elderflower on the finish. I didn’t really detect the herbals as much, but I loved it! Fine bubbles, classic orange-red color, and it absolutely holds up poured over ice with an orange slice.
One note: the US formulation of Lyre’s contains artificial food dyes (Red 40 and Yellow 6 = orange color). That’s a dealbreaker for some people.
Nutrition: 70 calories and 16g sugar (all added sugar)
#3: ISH SpritzISH
This one won the Category Champion award at the Bartenders Brand Awards in London and a 3-Star Great Taste Award (given to fewer than 2% of entries). So it has serious credentials. It’s also the prettiest can!
The best way I can describe it: a melted orange popsicle but with good bitterness underneath. It has the most vibrant, beautiful color of the three (almost neon orange) and the bitterness is solid, but the flavor profile is just slightly off to me compared to the other two. There’s something in the finish that reads as a little artificial, even though it’s made from natural ingredients.
That said, if the De Soi or Lyre’s aren’t available and you spot this one? Absolutely grab it. The color alone makes it a showstopper in a glass. I really did like all three!
Also built on gentian root and quassia bark (the same botanical bitterness base as Lyre’s) plus Italian citrus. The quinine is also present here, contributing to that slight tonic note.
Nutrition: 80 calories and 18g sugar
Honorable Mention: Recess Island Spritz
I had to give Recess a shoutout here even though it’s not really an Aperol Spritz alternative — it tastes more tropical than Italian. Think pineapple-coconut with a hint of hibiscus and rosehip, which is delicious but a different vibe entirely. If you want something that tastes like a vacation rather than an aperitivo, this is your drink.
What I love about it: the nutrition is fantastic. Only 35 calories and 7g of natural sugar (agave-sweetened), plus adaptogens — L-theanine and lemon balm — and a small natural caffeine boost from guayusa. It’s lightly sparkling and genuinely refreshing.
A Note on Sugar
While all three of these are a significant step down from a real Aperol Spritz (roughly 150-170 calories, 13g sugar), they’re not sugar-free. The range is about 13–18g of sugar per can depending on the brand. That’s not a big deal to me – if I’m having a drink that comes with the territory.
Lighten it up:
Dilute with orange seltzer water. Mixing half a can with some plain orange sparkling water cuts the sugar roughly in half while keeping all the flavor and fizz. The taste is still there!
How to Serve Them
- Poured over a large ice cube or ice cubes in a wide wine glass or balloon glass
- Garnished with a fresh orange slice (and an olive if you want to lean into the Italian aperitivo vibe)
- Or straight from the chilled can – great for the pool or beach
- Add a splash of real Aperol. Counterintuitive for a NA post, I know! But if you just want a lighter cocktail (not zero-alcohol), adding a small pour of real Aperol to any of these gives you that authentic warmth at a fraction of the usual alcohol content.
Nonalcoholic Aperol Spritz FAQ
What is a nonalcoholic Aperol Spritz made of?
A nonalcoholic Aperol Spritz swaps the Aperol for a zero-proof aperitif and the Prosecco for a NA sparkling wine or soda water. The goal is the same bittersweet citrus and herbal flavor with fizz, minus the alcohol. The ready-to-drink cans above do all that work for you. Some have adaptogens as well.
Are NA spritzes actually good?
Yes! And more convincingly than most NA options (looking at you, red wine!) The key is that a classic Aperol Spritz has a relatively delicate flavor to begin with. The botanicals that create that bittersweet profile — gentian root, citrus peel, herbs — translate well into alcohol-free formulations.
Do they taste exactly like Aperol Spritz?
Close, but not identical. Even though they do contain sugar, they are more bitter than sweet which is what I want from a cocktail. They’re missing that warmth that alcohol provides. That said, the best ones — like the three above — are genuinely satisfying in a way that earlier-generation NA drinks were not. The sparkling format especially helps: bubbly NA drinks tend to taste more authentic than still ones.
How many calories are in a nonalcoholic Aperol Spritz?
A traditional Aperol Spritz is around 170 calories. The NA versions range from roughly 60–90 calories per can. De Soi is the lightest at 60 calories and has no added sugar.
Do nonalcoholic spritzes have sugar?
They do — typically 13–18g per can depending on the brand. This is less than a real Aperol Spritz, and some (like De Soi) get all their sugar from fruit with no added sugar. If you’re watching sugar intake, diluting with plain orange seltzer is a great way to cut it down without sacrificing the experience.
Where can you buy NA Aperol Spritz alternatives?
The Zero Proof carries all three brands above and ships nationally. You can also sometimes find Lyre’s at Whole Foods or specialty grocery stores.
If you haven’t tried the NA spritz category yet, summer is the time to start. The ritual of cracking something cold and bubbly at 5pm is half the point, and these deliver on that without the next-morning regret.
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