What says summer more than a spritz in hand? But after our umpteenth heatwave, even Aperol can start to feel less like a seasonal treat and more like the default order you reach for on autopilot.

This summer, we’re looking beyond the usual orange-hued suspects to explore the wider world of aperitifs – from floral elderflower and vibrant tropical fruit to cherry, citrus and even white port. These bottles bring new flavours, textures and twists to the classic spritz, giving you a reason to experiment beyond the familiar.

Whether you like your drinks bitter and botanical, bright and zesty or sweet and fruit-forward, there’s an aperitif waiting to shake up your summer serve. Here are the bottles to try, from crisp white ports to rich cherry liqueurs.

Best aperitifs for spritzes at a glance

If you like bittersweet, classic aperitivo flavours: Quaglia Aperitivo Berto – Orange, rhubarb and gentian give it the bitter, herbal profile of a classic Italian spritz, but with more depth.

If you like floral, aromatic flavours: Fiorente Elderflower Liqueur – Elderflower, mint, lemon and lime make this fresh, fragrant and much less bitter than a traditional aperitivo.

If you prefer richer, darker fruit flavours: Bellamie – Ripe cherry, baking spice and marzipan give this a deeper, more rounded flavour than the bright citrus and berry-led options.

If you like tropical, juicy cocktails: Sarti – Passionfruit, mango and Sicilian blood orange make this the most tropical and fruit-forward of the bunch, with a softer bitterness than the classic spritz.

If you prefer wine-based, lighter drinks: Lillet Rosé – Rosé wine, grapefruit, red berries and orange blossom make this fresh and fruit-led, with a softer profile than spirit-based aperitivos.

The best aperitifs for spritzes in 2026

1. Bellamie Cherry Apéritif

Spritz but make it darker and more sophisticated. While the classic summer serve has long been dominated by bitter citrus and bright orange hues, Bellamie is switching things up: a deep ruby cherry apéritif inspired by the traditional French Guignolet style of cherry liqueurs, but with a modern twist.

Crafted in Kent using real fruit and natural ingredients, Bellamie is made with cherries, cherry blossom, cognac and fruit stones to create a rich, layered flavour profile. Expect ripe cherry sweetness balanced by warming baking spice and a subtle marzipan finish, giving it far more complexity than a simple fruit liqueur.

With no artificial colouring or flavouring, its striking colour comes naturally from the fruit itself. This is for a chic French apéritif hour – not just any after work bevo. If you like red berries or cherries in particular, you’ll be head over heels over this drink.

Try it with:

1. Bellamie Spritz — Bellamie, Prosecco and soda water over ice, finished with three green olives
2. Cherry Royale — Bellamie topped with Champagne or sparkling wine for a richer, celebration-ready serve
3. Cherry Negroni — Bellamie, gin and sweet vermouth stirred over ice for a fruitier twist on the classic cocktail

Best for: Cherry lovers, garden party hosts and anyone looking for a more grown-up alternative to bright, bitter spritzes.

ABV: 18%

Price: £34 (depending on retailer)

2. Sarti

Pink cocktails have had their moment (just keep reading!), but Sarti brings a slightly more grown-up take on the trend. Created in Italy and made with passionfruit, mango and Sicilian blood oranges, this vibrant aperitivo delivers the colour people love from a strawberry daiquiri or passionfruit martini, but with a lighter, fresher profile.

The tropical fruit sweetness from passionfruit and mango is lifted by the citrusy bitterness of Sicilian blood orange, creating a smoother alternative to more bitter aperitivi. It has quickly found a following among drinkers looking for something colourful and refreshing without the heavier feel of a dessert-style cocktail – helped along by its standout pink bottle and strong social media presence.

Try it with:

1. Sarti Rosa Spritz — Sarti Rosa, Prosecco and soda water over ice with a slice of lime
2. Sarti Paloma Twist — Sarti Rosa, grapefruit soda and fresh lime over ice for a tropical take on the classic highball
3. Sarti Sour — Sarti Rosa, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white shaken for a more cocktail-bar style serve

Best for: Fans of pink cocktails who want something fruitier and more refreshing than a sugary martini or daiquiri.

ABV: 14%

Price: £18 (depending on retailer)

3. Quinta da Pedra Alta Pedra No3 White Port

Most people’s only encounter with port is the syrupy sludge someone’s dad pours after dinner. This isn’t that. It’s a blend of Rabigato, Gouveio and Viosinho grapes from the Douro’s highest vineyards, picked early and pressed fast to keep its brightness – Decanter, the wine world’s equivalent to a Michelin guide, gave it 90 out of 100, and you can taste why: it’s closer to a crisp white wine with a kick than a fortified relic. The estate itself only rebranded in 2019 under new ownership, which explains why it looks nothing like your nan’s port bottle, and much more like a bottle you would want to showcase.

Try it with:

1. Pedratonica — white port and tonic over ice, basil and orange
2. Three Stone Martini — white port, London dry gin and dry vermouth, stirred
3. Porto Spritz — white port, poire williams liqueur and sparkling wine
4. Corpse Reviver No. 03 — white port, triple sec, absinthe and wheat vodka, shaken

Best for: The posh rosé-and-white crowd feeling adventurous enough for a cocktail, but not ready to give up the wine glass.

ABV: 18%

Price: £19.50 (depending on retailer)

4. Fiorente Elderflower Liqueur

The Hugo has spent the last few summers threatening to steal Aperol Spritz’s job, and honestly, we can see why. Born in South Tyrol in the mid-2000s, it swaps bitter orange for elderflower, mint and citrus, making for a softer, more fragrant kind of spritz.

Fiorente is particularly good for the job. Made with wild elderflowers from the foothills of the Italian Alps and infused with mint, lemon and lime, it has plenty of floral character without going full-on sweet syrup. The brand also uses less sugar than many elderflower liqueurs, which helps explain its clean, zesty finish.

Pour it with Prosecco, a splash of soda, plenty of ice and a few mint leaves, and you’ve got the sort of drink that makes a Tuesday lunch out in the garden feel like it was a very good idea.

Try it with:

1. Hugo Spritz — Fiorente Elderflower Liqueur, Prosecco, soda water, mint and lime over ice
2. Elderflower Gin Collins — Fiorente, London dry gin, lemon juice, soda water and ice
3. Elderflower French 75 — Fiorente, gin, lemon juice and Champagne or sparkling wine

Best for: Elderflower obsessives, long lunches and anyone who thinks an Aperol Spritz could do with a little more perfume.

ABV: 20%

Price: £23.50 (depending on retailer)

5. Santoni L’Aperitivo

If Aperol is the classic Italian spritz, Santoni L’Aperitivo is its more modern Tuscan cousin. Created by Famiglia Santoni, the Florentine distillery behind Amaro Santoni since 1960, it brings a lighter, more botanical take on Italy’s bittersweet aperitivo tradition, built around rhubarb, iris and 34 botanicals including citrus and olive leaves.

Santoni has a distinctly Mediterranean character: bright and refreshing with citrus lift, gentle herbal bitterness and a subtle savoury edge from the olive leaves. The result is an aperitivo that feels elegant and is complex enough for cocktail lovers, but easy-drinking enough for an afternoon in the sun. Pour it with Prosecco, a splash of soda, plenty of ice and an orange slice, and you’ve got a modern Italian spritz with a distinctly Tuscan twist.

Try it with:

1. Santoni Spritz — Santoni L’Aperitivo, Prosecco and soda water over ice, finished with an orange slice
2. Americano Twist — Santoni L’Aperitivo, sweet vermouth and soda water over ice
3. Negroni-style Serve — Santoni L’Aperitivo, gin and sweet vermouth stirred over ice

Best for: Aperitivo fans looking for something more botanical and sophisticated than the usual orange spritz.

ABV: 16%

Price: £34.99 (depending on retailer)

6. Quaglia Aperitivo Berto

If Aperol is the gateway drug to Italian aperitivo, Berto is what happens when you start getting curious. This Piemonte-made aperitivo is built around fresh orange peel, rhubarb and gentian root, with ginger and Italian citrus bringing extra spice and lift.

It’s recognisably in the same bitter-orange family as Aperol, but the flavour is more herbal and layered: sweet orange and fleshy peach and apricot up front, followed by herbs, spice and a lingering bittersweet finish. The 15% ABV also gives it enough body to hold its own once you add Prosecco and soda.

Try it with:

1. Berto Spritz — Quaglia Aperitivo Berto, Prosecco and soda water over ice with an orange slice
2. Americano-style serve — Berto, sweet vermouth and soda water over ice
3. Negroni twist — Berto, gin and sweet vermouth stirred over ice

Best for: Aperol fans ready to graduate, especially if you like your spritz with a little more bitterness and botanical bite.

ABV: 15%

Price: £22.95 (depending on retailer)

7. Jean-Luc Pasquet Marie-Framboise

Marie-Framboise is a French aperitif made from fresh raspberries, unfermented grape juice and eaux-de-vie, resulting in something that tastes gloriously like actual raspberries. It’s juicy, aromatic and deliberately flamboyant – a bottle that’s already dressed up and ready for any occasion. You can enjoy it over ice if you love your berries, or turn it into a refreshing spritz with sparkling wine and soda. A little mint works particularly well against all that ripe berry fruit.

And despite the name, this isn’t a raspberry liqueur in the usual sense. The combination of fresh fruit, grape juice and eaux-de-vie gives it a more vinous character, which is exactly what makes it work so well with fizz.

Try it with:

1. Berry Spritz — Marie-Framboise, sparkling wine and soda water over ice with fresh mint
2. Raspberry Royale — Marie-Framboise topped with Champagne or sparkling wine
3. Raspberry Gin Sour — Marie-Framboise, gin, lemon juice and egg white shaken over ice

Best for: Fans of berry-led drinks who want something fresh, elegant and closer to real fruit than a typical flavoured liqueur.

ABV: 16%

Price: £24.50 (depending on retailer)

8. Lillet

Some drinks feel like they were made for golden hour, and Lillet Rosé is one of them. Born in Bordeaux in 2011, this French wine-based aperitif blends rosé wine with fruit infusions to create something lighter and more delicate than the typical spritz crowd. Expect notes of red berries, orange blossom and grapefruit, with a fresh, elegant character that sits somewhere between a chilled glass of rosé and a proper aperitif.

The grapefruit pairing brings out its zesty side, creating a cocktail that feels somewhere between a glass of chilled rosé and a proper aperitif. Pour it with grapefruit soda, plenty of ice and a fresh grapefruit slice, and you’ve got the kind of drink that belongs on a sun-drenched terrace (just make sure to block your Teams calendar).

Try it with:

1. Lillet Rosé Grapefruit Spritz — Lillet Rosé, grapefruit soda and a slice of fresh grapefruit over ice
2. Lillet Rosé Spritz — Lillet Rosé, tonic water, ice and grapefruit for a lighter, more refreshing twist
3. Rosé Grand Spritz — Lillet Rosé, sparkling wine and soda water for a more celebratory take on the classic serve

Best for: Rosé lovers, long lunches and anyone who wants their summer drink to feel more Bordeaux terrace than beach bar.

ABV: 17%

Price: £20.65 (depending on retailer)

9. Terra di Limoni Limoncello di Amalfi

There are few things more reliably summery than a bottle of limoncello straight from the freezer. This one comes from the Amalfi Coast and is made by infusing the peels of PGI Sfusato Amalfi lemons – the famously fragrant lemons grown along the coast. Terra di Limoni uses a hefty 480g of Amalfi lemon per litre of finished product, so this isn’t shy on the citrus.

On its own, it’s rich, sweet and intensely lemony; add Prosecco and soda and it becomes a much lighter proposition. The sparkling wine cuts through the sweetness while the soda stretches all that lemony flavour into something dangerously drinkable. Serve over plenty of ice with a lemon wheel and, ideally, somewhere vaguely resembling the Amalfi Coast(use your imagination).

Try it with:

1. Limoncello Spritz — Terra di Limoni Limoncello, Prosecco and soda water over ice with lemon
2. Limoncello Collins — Limoncello, gin, lemon juice and soda water
3. Amalfi Margarita twist — Limoncello, tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur

Best for: Lemon lovers, sunny-day drinking and anyone who believes every problem can be improved by adding Prosecco.

ABV: 25%

Price: £20.50 (depending on retailer)

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