I’ve just got back in from dinner where I used the opportunity to take the Lyre’s Italian Spritz along and survey the fussiest Aperol drinkers for their thoughts. Spoiler alert, they were generally impressed. But more on all of that down below, let’s get going!

The Lyre’s Dry Italian Spritz earns an 8/10 due to its citrus led profile that provides both sweetness and bitterness before being complemented by a warm body of rhubarb and lingering bitter finish. The well-weighted and round body makes this a great base to build upon for a low or no alcohol aperitif.

Key Takeaways

ABV:

0.0%

Style

Spritz / Aperol Alternative

Calories:

25 calories per serve (30ml)

Colour:

Electric Orange/Red

Main Notes:

Sweet Orange Citrus

Cost:

$19 (200ml) – $49 (700ml)

Rating:

8 / 10

 READ THE FULL REVIEW DOWN BELOW

What Does Lyre’s Italian Spritz Taste Like?

The taste profile of the Lyre’s Italian Spritz is built around your traditional spritz profile and sees it bring big bright notes of citrus backed sweetness and pointed lingering bitterness that will have you enjoying glass after glass without the repercussions the next morning.

Given the profile is going to be well known to Aperol drinkers the world over, how does the exact taste match up?

The profile of the Lyre’s Italian Spritz is going to greet your glass, whether neat or stirred into a cocktail, with:

  • immediately weighted mouthfeel that carries a smooth orange sweetness
  • a long and mostly sweet body that transitions to a bright and crisp combination of rhubarb and citrus notes.
  • pointed and bold bitterness that builds into the finish of each mouthful
  • a balanced aftertaste of bitterness and almost candied orange.

Looking at this from a body and weight profile, it is extremely viscous and well-weighted. If you try this neat, you’re going to be challenged to find something that has a heavier glass presence. Big thumbs up from me on the body front.

What I Like

Things to Consider

The classic spritz profile that balances sweetness with bitterness. At 6 grams of sugar per serve the sugar quantity may be a little high for some drinkers.
The fact it is ready to be mixed with anything from soda or tonic through to your favourite alcoholic sparkling. The heat you would expect (albeit lower than other spirits) from traditional spirits is not present.

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Lyre's Italian Spritz Bottle in hand

Lyre’s Italian Spritz Stockists

Like all the core Lyre’s range, the Lyre’s Italian Spritz is a truly globally available non-alcoholic spirit and can be found in the Europe, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, just to name a few.

With excellent availability both online and in-store, the Italian Spritz from Lyre’s is going to be easy to track down no matter what part of the world you’re in. below for you to find out more about how much a bottle costs in your part of the world!

Australia & NZ

UK & Europe

USA

Craft Zero (AU/NZ)

Lyre’s AU

Lyre’s NZ

Amazon UK

Amazon Italy

Dry Drinker

Amazon USA

Lyre’s USA

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Who Would Enjoy Lyre’s Italian Spritz?

Much like the wonderfully flavourful Lyre’s Italian Orange, the Lyre’s Italian Spritz is going to be for the drinker spritz drinker, Aperol dedicated or otherwise, who is looking to carry the full flavour of a traditional spritz into a low or no alcohol option.

Like I mentioned at the top of the review, I just got in from dinner where I pulled together an entirely alcohol free Aperol and paired it next to a low alcohol option which used the Italian Spritz in place of traditional Aperol. (This is why the photos of the bottle look like they’re not in their usual surroundings!)

That said, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the low alcohol option was generally the preferred option the one crafted with Lyre’s Classico was a great alternative where it was unanimously agreed that ‘I’d quite happily drink that if I was driving or off the booze’.

If you like the sound of the Italian Spritz, take a look at the two below options that can help you craft an array of low or no-alcohol cocktails. If you’re looking for a low alcohol negroni option these options have you covered:

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Lyre's Italian Spritz Bottle

Lyre’s Italian Spritz Calories

Each 30ml serve of the Lyre’s Italian Spritz is made up of 25 calories and 6 grams of sugar, this makes it somewhat higher in sugar and calories than completely sugar-free options, but lower in sugar and calories than some ready to drink options.

Giving you the broader number per 100ml you will find 82 calories and 20 grams of sugar.

The full and detailed calorie and nutritional information about the Lyre’s Italian Orange are down below, take a look for more detail.

Avg Quantity
Per Serving (30ml)
Avg Quantity
Per 100ml
Energy 105 kJ
25 Cal
350 kJ
82 Cal
Protein 0.0 g 0.0 g
Fat, total 0.0 g 0.0 g
— saturated 0.0 g 0.0 g
Carbohydrate 6 g 20 g
— sugars 6 g 20 g
Sodium 0 mg 0 mg

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Lyre's Italian Spritz Bottle nutrition and calories

How Can You Use Lyre’s Italian Spritz?

While the Italian Spritz is going to be happy in your glass over ice, due to its remarkably well-weighted and heavy body and mouthfeel it is absolutely made for mixing. Get it mixed in any low or (if you’re looking at Dry January, Feb Fast or Ocsober) no alcohol alternative.

Personally, I quite enjoy 50-60ml of this over ice with a great quality tonic or 50-60ml over ice topped up with a non-alc sparkling of choice or the Lyre’s Classico.

If you’re looking to get a little more creative, you’re going to find it is comfortable in a glass mixed up as part of a low or no alcohol negroni or mixed with the Lyre’s Dry London Gin!

Find out more about the other Lyre’s products I’ve reviewed recently. I have purchased them all with my own money so rest assured I’m clear on conflicts!

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The Round Up: Final Thoughts

With the popularity of non-alcoholic spirits increasing quality products are going to be rocketed to the forefront and in the case of the Lyre’s Italian Spritz, it is evident the mouthfeel, weight and flavour complexity make this a product that is holding its weight (pardon the pun) on all fronts.

No, it doesn’t carry the heat that alcoholic options do, however once mixed into an Aperol alternative it does go quite a way to providing that sheen and polish you get from alcohol which in itself makes this worth trying out.

All in all – 8/10 for me. I toyed with a 7.5 due to the sugar content however the mouthfeel, depth and complexity of flavour are all likely contingent upon it. So 8/10 it is.

So now it is over to you, let’s find you a bottle no matter where you are in the world. An array of global links are down below.

Australia & NZ

UK & Europe

USA

Craft Zero (AU/NZ)

Lyre’s AU

Lyre’s NZ

Amazon UK

Amazon Italy

Dry Drinker

Amazon USA

Lyre’s USA

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Lyre's Italian Spritz Bottle Label

by Jonathan Lambrianidis

Non-alcoholic drinks writer and podcaster, beer brewing and winemaking side-kick, lawyer and cyclist. Owner of Tipplezero.com and the Non-Alcoholic Drinks Podcast.