Non-Alcoholic Orange Spritz with Schweppes Bitter Lemon
Mix an easy orange spritz with bitter lemon, orange juice and sparkling water. Includes adjustments, four-serving quantities and mixer swaps.
An orange spritz made with Schweppes Bitter Lemon, orange juice and sparkling water is an easy non-alcoholic aperitif. It borrows the orange-bitter direction of a spritz but contains no Aperol. Think of it as a mixer-based drink with its own flavour.
Ingredients for one glass
- 100 ml Schweppes Bitter Lemon or a comparable bitter-lemon mixer
- 40 ml orange juice
- 40 ml sparkling water
- 5–10 ml lemon juice, to taste
- Large ice cubes and an orange slice
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add orange juice, followed slowly by bitter lemon and sparkling water. Stir gently and taste before adding lemon juice. Garnish with orange.
Why the combination works
Orange juice supplies fruit, bitter lemon contributes citrus and bitterness, and sparkling water lowers the mixer’s intensity. This does not reproduce Aperol exactly: the drink is fresher and more directly influenced by its juices.
Bitter lemon is already acidic, so the extra lemon juice is optional. Add it gradually rather than following a fixed sourness target. A spoonful of syrup is not automatically needed.
Three useful adjustments
More bitter: replace 20 ml orange juice with grapefruit juice and taste before adding lemon.
Less sweet: use more sparkling water and less mixer. A Zero mixer still leaves the sugar from the orange juice in the finished drink.
With an aperitif base: replace 30 ml orange juice with a non-alcoholic bitter-orange alternative. This adds complexity but may also add sweetness; increase the soda if necessary.
Prepare four glasses
Chill 160 ml orange juice and keep 400 ml bitter lemon plus 160 ml sparkling water separately. Divide juice and ice between four glasses and top up immediately before serving. Adjust lemon in one trial portion before scaling it across the group.
Common questions
Is this an official Schweppes Aperol product?
No. This is a recipe assembled from a mixer and other ingredients. Use the Schweppes range page to check current packaged drinks and names. Local ranges can differ from the German range.
Can I use tonic instead of bitter lemon?
Yes. Tonic supplies a different bitterness and less pronounced lemon-soda flavour. Start with the same quantity and adjust fresh lemon only after tasting.
Do I need non-alcoholic sparkling wine?
No, this recipe does not require it. If you want to use a dedicated aperitif base, see the spritz buying guide .