Eight Sessionable Summer Spritzes

For when the night is young, and staying sober(ish) means longer catch ups and more time spent with friends.

Many of us will have had a night drinking spritzes with friends only to discover these aperitivo cocktails pack a deceptive punch, hiding plenty of booze in their bubbles and bitters. With the advent of non-alc sparkling wine, as well as booze-free liqueurs, vermouths and aperitivos, you can scale back a little, a lot or completely on just how potent your spritz is.

Here we've got eight drinks featuring Lyre's Classico (an ode to Italy's sparkling wine) and Lyre's range of aperitif bases - some with low-abv and some with none. If you want to up the booze just swap your Classico for prosecco.

AMALFI SPRITZ

With: 60ml Lyre's Italian Spritz, 60ml Lyre’s Classico, 30ml premium bottled soda water. Add all ingredients in a wine glass, stir, fill with fresh cubed ice. Garnish with an orange wedge.
We say: A booze-free alternative to the well-known AperitivABV: none. Swap your Classico for prosecco for a low-abv option.

FESTIVAL SPRITZ

With: 30ml Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, 30ml Lyre’s Apéritif Dry, 90ml premium bottled Mediterranean tonic water. Add all ingredients in a wine glass, stir, fill with fresh cubed ice. Garnish with thin cucumber slices and strawberry pieces.
We say: Bright, bubbly and refreshing, this easy-drinking Spritz is on the drier, aromatic side. Perfect if your usual jam is a G&T or even a Reversed Vesper & Tonic.
ABV: none.

SPRITZ DE PASSIONE

With: 60ml Lyre's Italian Spritz, 90ml Lyre's Classico, 7.5ml premium mango syrup. Add all ingredients in a wine glass, stir, fill with fresh cubed ice. Garnish with 2 lemon slices, 4 raspberries, 4 blueberries
1/2 fresh passionfruit pulp and a mint sprig.
We say: Summer in a cold glass. This Spritz is a wonderful combination of lightly bitter orange, summer fruits and fresh citrus with a touch of fizz in one mouthful. You. Are. Welcome.
ABV: none. Swap your Classico for prosecco for a low-abv option.

NON-ALC FRENCH 75

With: 50ml Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml rosemary honey syrup*, Lyre's Classico. Shake all your ingredients with ice except for the Classico, strain into a Champagne flute or narrow wine glass and top with Classico. Garnish with a lemon zest.
We say: Fresh, clean and sophisticated, this non-alc twist on the classic keeps the French 75's drier effervescent palate.
ABV: none. Swap your Classico for prosecco for a low-abv option.

*in a small pot combine equal parts honey and water plus a fresh rosemary spring, bring to a low simmer and then allow to cool before bottling

LIMONCELLO SPRITZ

With: 30 ml Lyre's Classico, 45 ml Villa Massa Limoncello, 20 ml Soda (club soda) water. POUR all ingredients into ice-filled glass and briefly stir. Garnish with an orange slice.
We say: Zesty, almost creamy, lemon enlivened with fizz.
ABV: low.

CUCUMBER & ELDERFLOWER SPRITZ

With: 75ml Lyre's Classico, 10ml Monin Elderflower syrup, 100ml cucumber tonic water. POUR all ingredients into ice-filled glass and lightly stir. Garnish with a mint sprig and cucumber slice.
We say: Cucumber, elderflower and crispy Classico wine combine as a trio of summery flavours in this light and refreshing cocktail.
ABV: none.

LYRE'S ITALIAN HIGHBALL

With:60ml Lyre’s Italian Spritz, 60ml premium bottled tonic water, 30ml premium bottled soda water. POUR all ingredients into ice-filled glass and lightly stir. Garnish with an orange slice.
We say: The Italian Highball is an effervescence sensation. Combining the bubbles of tonic and soda to bring to life the Lyre's Italian Spritz as a tastier and healthier version of a spritz.
ABV: none.

PEACH & APRICOT SPRITZ

With:75ml Lyre’s Classico, 25ml peach liqueur, 25ml apricot liqueur, 25ml soda water. POUR Classico and liqueurs into glass. ADD ice. Top with soda. Garnish with a fresh peach slice.
We say: This Classico-based spritz is fruity but not overly sweet. Peach and apricot sit brilliantly with the sparkling wine, think Bellini with a hint of apricot.
ABV: low. To make non-alcoholic swap the liqueurs for cordials or syrups.