WITH temperatures set to soar to 30°C, it’s the weekend to be putting on the spritz – Aperol Spritz.
The bright-orange cocktail has become a summer favourite everywhere, from beer gardens to backyard BBQs.
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Invented in Italy in 1919, the original Aperol is an alcoholic aperitif made with citrus, bitter roots and herby flavours.
It can be sipped neat but is most typically enjoyed as a Spritz, topped with prosecco and soda water and served over ice with a slice of orange.
Aperol Spritz was last year’s most searched cocktail recipe on Google.
With temperatures up, Laura Stott tried a selection of more affordable alternative aperitivos to see how they compared to the bestseller in both taste and price – marking each example out of five.
APEROL: 3/5
1L up to £21, Sainsburys.co.uk
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THIS market-leading aperitif is the namesake base to the famous signature Italian cocktail that has since become one of the UK’s most loved tipples for the summer.
Its distinctive colour is luminous orange.
But it’s worth mentioning that it is fairly low on booze, at just 11 per cent.
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The taste is bittersweet and refreshing, with familiar flavours of herbs, citrus fruits, rhubarb and botanicals that pair perfectly with prosecco, a splash of soda and slice of orange for your sundowner or pre-dinner drink.
Goes down a treat. However, these days a bottle is pretty pricey.
BITTEROL: 4/5
70CL £7.99, Lidl (selected stores)
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LIDL’s boozy bitters dupe is almost identical in colour to the brand leader.
With its glowing blood-orange hue, it has the same pleasingly sensible 11 per cent ABV.
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 the rest of the traditional ingredients, it’s hard to detect many differences between this one and the original tipple – except at the till, where it’s less than half the price.
Heads up, there’s often limited stock so grab a bottle fast before they go.
APERINI: 2/5
70CL £5.49, Aldi (in stores)
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A BARGAIN-priced bottle from Aldi that was the cheapest of all the aperitifs I tried.
However, the liquid itself is far paler in colour than the better-known brand, more like a blush wine than a vibrant orange.
Once diluted with fizz and soda water, this didn’t improve, turning just to a washed-out, pale-brown drink which unfortunately even with ice and an orange slice couldn’t perk up.
Tastes rather woody and astringent and lacked any punch or zing.
A real pity, because it’s a great price, but even with the huge saving I don’t think I’d buy this again.
FUNKIN COCKTAILS APERITIVO SPRITZ: 3/5
250ml (per can) £2.10, Sainsburys.co.uk
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THESE ready-made cans are a great idea for portable summer al-fresco bevvies at picnics, parks or anywhere else you want to glug on the go.
Already mixed to a classic Spritz recipe with sparkling wine and botanical and citrus flavours, it tastes great and buzzes with summery vibes.
No fuss or hassle, just pop open the tin and drink – what more could you want?
There’s less waste as well, because you don’t need to buy all the other ingredients for making your Italian tipple, so it is surprisingly better for your wallet.
Just make sure you keep it chilled so it’s ready to grab when you need.
BELLA APERTINI: 5/5
70cl £7, tesco.com
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AT a low price point, this aperitif has a fun label that will get you in the party mood.
Alongside a similar luminous-orange liquid there’s also the same distinctively delicate herby and citrus notes, that dilute into the very satisfying and very similar taste of an Italian-style spritz.
Perhaps a tad sweeter and less complex than the leading brand but, enjoyed over ice in the sunshine, it compares more than favourably and will save you almost a tenner.
It would also make a nice base for a party punch. Lovely summer drink and a no-brainer shopping-basket switch.
MARTINI FIERO: 3/5
75cl £7, Tesco stores (currently out of stock online) or £10, Ocado.com
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ENJOYABLE and complex, this bottle is more grown up in flavour, with plenty of depth.
It’s a touch darker than Aperol, mixing to a cherry-red cocktail in the glass.
This aperitif is vermouth- based, which supplies intensity alongside the typical bittersweet taste.
Plus it benefits from a real wallop of sweetness from Spanish orange peel. Very refreshing and perfect as a sophisticated pre-dinner drink.
You don’t need to add extra wine when making a spritz with this, simply top up with tonic and an orange – and keep costs down.
LUXARDO APERITIVO: 4/5
70cl £12.50, amazon.co.uk or £8.55, vipbottles.co.uk
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MY favourite bottle of the lot, this neon- orange liquid hails straight from Italy and is so beautifully packaged you can’t wait to pour yourself a measure.
The taste is sweet, refreshing and has lovely citrus notes including grapefruit and orange. This is a little juicier in flavour made into a traditional spritz, yet equally gluggable and thirst quenching.
Just like Aperol, this brand is a big name back in Italy, so the liquor is top-quality but the price is lower.
Would go great with tonic, too.
Overall, a delicious authentic aperitivo alternative.
APERITIVO BIANCO: 3/5
6 X 98ml £1.98, Lidl (in stores)
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THESE charming little aperitif bottles give off real summer holiday vibes and very much feel like something you might be brought to sip by a waiter in an Italian café.
They are alcohol-free, making them ideal for non-drinkers who still want to enjoy a spritz-style beverage, and being booze-free they also keep the cost low.
If you want extra kick it’s easy to add a measure of your favourite spirit and use one as a mixer for a more traditional style of spritz cocktail.
Either way, served with ice and orange you get a grown-up, typically bitter tipple with a hint of lemon.
