Overall I’d say if, for whatever reason, you’re going booze-free, you shouldn’t expect a direct match. I haven’t found anything with the body of an alcoholic drink but it’s not all bad - it’s definitely not all water or overly fizzy drinks either. Ah, bubbles. I’m usually a Cava sort of girl but if I'm being honest, I'll happily try most things that have come with bubbles. There is now a good range of non-alcoholic fizz on the market.

Today there are different versions of the Aperol spritz and the diatribe is always open, just like it happens for carbonara pasta: there are those who use Campari, those who use Aperol, those who mix wine and sparkling water but in all cases, the result is always guaranteed even if the classic recipe is based on Aperol. What is in a spritz? Cynar is considered a “digestive,” and in the Eighties, it was also considered an almost-medicinal Italian after-dinner drink. The reason is simple: it’s made by mixing 13 herbs and has artichokes as its main ingredient. It’s a bitter liquor, and the spritz you’ll get by using it will be a bit bitter and more robust in terms of alcohol. What is Select? Campari has a more prominent flavor, and your spritz will change a lot if you choose to use it. What’s Cynar? This spritz must always be prepared in a wine glass or a lowball glass because these glasses allow the ingredients to mix correctly and not to evaporate so that the flavor will stay there for a long time.

They also have a different alcohol content: Aperol is 11% ABV, while Campari ranges from 20.5% to 28.5% ABV.

Full of fresh and subtle aromas of orange and grapefruits, a nice balance between acidity and sweetness You will have a Cynar Spritz if you will use Cynar instead of Aperol: use ⅓ Cynar, ⅓ prosecco, ⅓ sparkling water, lemon, and ice to create probably the most known variation to the classic Spritz. The spritz as we know it today was born around 1920 – 1930 in the Veneto region, during the official presentation of Aperol drink at the Padua fair in 1919. In short, Venice and Padua are competing for this recipe. Aperol is sweeter than Campari and contains hints of bitter orange plus gentian and cinchona flowers. Campari, however, is more bitter and contains rhubarb, berries, and a floral bouquet of potent and mysterious herbs.

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Nozeco is a good addition to the zero-alcohol sparkling wine world; not only is it pretty drinkable but it is very fairly priced too, unlike many of its apparently “classier” competitors. Spritz Select is made with Select liquor, and according to people from Venice, this is the only Spritz possible: use ⅓ Select, ⅓ prosecco, ⅓ sparkling water, lemon, and ice. So, when making your classic Italian spritz recipe at home, follow the recipe without altering it both in terms of ingredients and in regards to how the elements get mixed. There's a good few options in the booze-free beer market. If you want to try some interesting beers I’d recommend Big Drop brewery where you can get a milk stout, Citra IPA, pale ale, and even a sour. They are sold at a big range of retailers including Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury's or you can buy direct online.