7 Non-Alcoholic Spritz Recipes That Feel Like a Celebration

The simple formula behind a good non-alcoholic spritz

A good spritz needs more than bubbles. It needs contrast: a flavorful base, something crisp and sparkling, a fresh lift from citrus or herbs, and enough ice to keep the whole glass cold.

Easy aperitivo-style starting point: use 2 parts non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, 3 parts chilled non-alcoholic sparkling wine and 1 part soda water. Fruit-led spritzes are more flexible, so use citrus, tonic or extra soda to keep sweetness in balance.

Different non-alcoholic aperitifs, sparkling wines and mixers vary in sweetness. Treat the ratios below as dependable starting points, then make one small adjustment if your bottle tastes sweeter or drier than expected.

Choose your non-alcoholic spritz

• Closest to a classic aperitivo: Bitter Orange Aperitivo Spritz — bittersweet, citrusy and made for pre-dinner sipping.
• Lightest and driest: Cucumber Tonic Spritz — crisp, green and very refreshing.
• Fresh and aromatic: Lemon Basil Spritz — bright citrus with a soft herbal finish.
• Soft and brunch-friendly: Peach Thyme Spritz — juicy, fragrant and easy to love.
• Most celebratory: Pomegranate Lime Spritz — tart, sparkling and jewel-toned.
• Fruity with a little edge: Strawberry Black Pepper Spritz — juicy, fresh and lightly spicy.
• Boldest flavor: Blood Orange Ginger Spritz — citrusy, bubbly and gently fiery.

If you only make one first, start with the Bitter Orange Aperitivo Spritz. It gives you the clearest spritz-style balance of bitterness, bubbles and citrus.

1. Bitter Orange Aperitivo Spritz

Bittersweet, bubbly and bright orange, this is the one to make when you want the closest thing to a classic aperitivo moment without the usual alcohol.

Ingredients

• 60 ml / 2 oz non-alcoholic bitter orange aperitif
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled dry non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• 30 ml / 1 oz chilled soda water
• Orange slice
• Ice

How to make it

1. Fill a large wine glass generously with ice.
2. Pour in the non-alcoholic aperitif and sparkling wine.
3. Top with soda water and stir once or twice, very gently.
4. Finish with an orange slice.

Quick tip: If your aperitif is quite sweet, add another splash of soda instead of more sparkling wine.

Want to compare the structure with the original? Our easy Aperol Spritz recipe uses the classic 3-2-1 formula with Prosecco, Aperol and soda water.

2. Cucumber Tonic Spritz

Cool cucumber and tonic make this the crispest drink in the list. It feels clean, light and especially good on a warm afternoon.

Ingredients

• 4 thin cucumber slices
• 15 ml / 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
• 10 ml / 0.3 oz simple syrup, optional
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled tonic water
• 60 ml / 2 oz chilled soda water
• Ice

How to make it

1. Add three cucumber slices and the lime juice to a large wine glass. Add the simple syrup only if you want a softer finish.
2. Press the cucumber gently a few times to release its flavor.
3. Fill the glass with ice, then add tonic and soda water.
4. Stir gently and garnish with the final cucumber slice.

Quick tip: Taste before adding syrup. Tonic already brings some sweetness, and the driest version may not need any extra at all.

3. Lemon Basil Spritz

This one is sunny, aromatic and just a little unexpected. Lemon keeps it sharp while basil gives the glass a fresh, garden-like aroma.

Ingredients

• 25 ml / 0.8 oz fresh lemon juice
• 10 ml / 0.3 oz simple syrup
• 3 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• 45 ml / 1.5 oz chilled soda water
• Ice

How to make it

1. Add lemon juice, simple syrup and basil to a large wine glass.
2. Press the basil very lightly, just enough to release the aroma.
3. Fill the glass with ice and add the sparkling wine.
4. Top with soda water, stir gently and garnish with fresh basil.

Quick tip: Do not crush the basil too hard. A light press gives you fragrance without turning the drink grassy.

If you love that fresh herb-and-bubble combination, our easy Hugo Spritz is the floral, minty version to try next.

4. Peach Thyme Spritz

Soft peach, a little lemon and a fragrant thyme finish make this one feel made for brunch, sunny lunches and slow weekend afternoons.

Ingredients

• 45 ml / 1.5 oz peach nectar
• 15 ml / 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• 30 ml / 1 oz chilled soda water
• 1 small thyme sprig
• Ice

How to make it

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice.
2. Add peach nectar and lemon juice.
3. Pour in the sparkling wine and soda water.
4. Stir gently and finish with a thyme sprig.

Quick tip: Peach nectar varies a lot in sweetness. If yours is very sweet, increase the soda water to 45–60 ml / 1.5–2 oz.

5. Pomegranate Lime Spritz

Bright ruby color makes this one look instantly festive, while pomegranate, lime and tonic give it a tart, grown-up edge.

Ingredients

• 45 ml / 1.5 oz pomegranate juice
• 15 ml / 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled tonic water
• 60 ml / 2 oz chilled soda water
• Lime wheel or a spoonful of pomegranate seeds, for garnish
• Ice

How to make it

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice.
2. Add pomegranate and lime juice.
3. Pour in the tonic and soda water.
4. Stir gently and garnish with lime or pomegranate seeds.

Quick tip: Taste the pomegranate juice first. If it is already sweetened, the tonic-and-soda finish will help keep the drink bright rather than heavy.

6. Strawberry Black Pepper Spritz

Strawberry makes it pretty. Black pepper keeps it interesting. The result is fruity without tasting like a glass of strawberry soda.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 15 ml / 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 10 ml / 0.3 oz simple syrup, optional
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• 45 ml / 1.5 oz chilled soda water
• 1 small pinch freshly ground black pepper
• Ice

How to make it

1. Add the strawberries and lemon juice to a wine glass. Add simple syrup only if the berries need it.
2. Muddle gently until the strawberries release their juice.
3. Fill with ice, then add the sparkling wine and soda water.
4. Stir once and finish with a very light grind of black pepper.

Quick tip: Keep the pepper subtle. You want a little aromatic bite, not a spicy drink.

7. Blood Orange Ginger Spritz

This is the boldest glass of the seven: juicy blood orange, lively ginger and enough soda to keep the finish fresh.

Ingredients

• 60 ml / 2 oz blood orange juice
• 15 ml / 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled non-alcoholic ginger beer
• 60 ml / 2 oz chilled soda water
• Blood orange slice
• Ice

How to make it

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice.
2. Add the blood orange and lime juice.
3. Pour in the ginger beer and soda water.
4. Give it one gentle stir and garnish with a blood orange slice.

Quick tip: Ginger beer can vary from dry and spicy to quite sweet. Add a little more soda if you want a lighter finish.

How to make a non-alcoholic spritz less sweet

The easiest fix is not more flavoring. It is more contrast. Make one small change at a time and taste again.

• Add fresh citrus: lemon or lime can make a sweet base feel brighter almost instantly.
• Use soda water generously: it stretches flavor without adding sweetness.
• Choose tonic for bitterness: especially with cucumber, citrus, berries or herbs.
• Keep everything very cold: warm sparkling drinks tend to taste softer and sweeter.
• Taste before adding syrup: juices, nectars, tonic and non-alcoholic aperitifs may already bring enough sweetness.

Often an extra squeeze of lime or another 30 ml / 1 oz of soda is all a spritz needs.

Serving non-alcoholic spritzes for a party

You do not need to make seven different drinks for a crowd. Pick two contrasting styles — one bitter or dry and one fruity — and let guests choose their mood.

• Chill sparkling wine, tonic, soda, ginger beer and juices before guests arrive.
• Slice citrus and prep herbs in advance.
• Keep plenty of ice close to the glasses.
• Pre-mix only the still ingredients if you want to save time.
• Add every sparkling ingredient just before serving so the drinks stay lively.

Large wine glasses are ideal, but roomy tumblers work too. The important part is enough ice and enough space for the bubbles.

More alcohol-free drinks to try

If you want to keep exploring beyond spritzes, try our mocktails that actually taste like cocktails for more balanced non-alcoholic ideas. For easy crowd-friendly options, the non-alcoholic summer party drinks list is a good next stop.

Non-alcoholic spritz FAQ

What is a non-alcoholic spritz?

It is a bubbly non-alcoholic drink built around a flavorful base plus sparkling ingredients such as non-alcoholic sparkling wine, tonic, soda water or ginger beer. The best versions balance sweetness with bitterness, citrus or herbs.

Do I need non-alcoholic sparkling wine to make a spritz?

No. Tonic water, soda water and ginger beer can create plenty of sparkle on their own. Non-alcoholic sparkling wine is useful when you want a more traditional aperitivo-style feel.

What can I use instead of Aperol in a non-alcoholic spritz?

Use a non-alcoholic bitter orange aperitif. Different products vary in sweetness and bitterness, so taste the drink and adjust with soda water or fresh citrus.

Can I make non-alcoholic spritzes ahead of time?

Prep juices, syrups, fruit and garnishes ahead. Add sparkling wine, tonic, soda or ginger beer only when you are ready to serve so the drink stays fizzy.

What glass is best for a non-alcoholic spritz?

A large wine glass is the easiest choice because it gives you room for plenty of ice, bubbles and garnish. A large tumbler also works perfectly well.

Pick your glass and make the moment

Choose bitter, fruity, herbal or dry. Fill the glass with ice, add the bubbles and make the moment feel a little more special. That is really all a good spritz needs.