Non-Alcoholic Italian Drinks (Aperitivo Mocktails)

Looking for the perfect Italian mocktails to include at your next Aperitivo hour?! This post is for you! I will share my top non-alcoholic Italian drinks that are easy to make and the perfect mocktail addition to any Italian-themed event!

If you follow along here at Our Seasoned Table, it will be no surprise to you that I absolutely LOVE a well-balanced mocktail. To me, a mocktail should be a drink crafted with time, attention, and thought- just like a traditional cocktail! When I think of a mocktail, I want more than just sparkling water with lemon slices (although, I do love that, too!). 

Below you’ll find a list of non-alcoholic italian beverages that taste deliciously complex, but are simple to pull together. These drinks are the perfect non-alcoholic options to include your next dinner party, or just to spice up a weeknight dinner!

Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz

If you’re looking for a mocktail version of the quintessential Italian cocktail- look no further! This non-alcoholic Aperol spritz has the bittersweet orange flavor and bubbles of a traditional Aperol spritz, but with no alcohol. It’s one of the most popular recipes on my blog, and I can see why! It really is a suitable non-alcoholic alternative to a traditional Aperol spritz, and it comes together quite easily and inexpensively.

One of my pain points with other mocktail Aperol spritz recipes was that they called for expensive non-alcoholic Aperol and wine alternatives. While I am glad that there are so many non-alcoholic options that exist these days, I’d rather not spend significant cash on non-alcoholic spirits that I may or may not end up liking! For that reason, I developed this recipe that is made with no speciality ingredients, so you can pick up everything you’ll need from your local grocery store. 

How to make it

This drink starts with making an orange rind simple syrup. This simple syrup makes use of a full orange and grapefruit (peel and all!) simmered with sugar, water and some rosemary to create a simple syrup that has the classic bittersweet and herby flavors of Aperol. You can then use as-is, or add some gel food coloring to help mimic the glassy orange color of traditional Aperol. The bitter citrus simple syrup is paired with a splash of soda water, lots of ice, and an orange slice for the perfect Aperol spritz look. 

I like to serve this non-alcoholic Italian drink in a wine glass and sip throughout the summer for all of the southern Italy vacation vibes! There’s a reason that the traditional Aperol spritzes are a popular choice in Italy, and this non-alcoholic version is the perfect alternative!

Non-Alcoholic Italian Punch

This next mocktail is fruity, bubbly, sweet and so delicious! I dreamt up this non-alcoholic italian punch after seeing this Italian punch recipe from Gilda De Laurentiis. I loved the idea of making a fruity mocktail punch that featured flavors of orange, lemon, and maraschino cherries. After testing a few variations, I found the best ingredient combo that yields a drink that is nearly impossible to stop sipping!

How to make it

This drink starts with blood orange italian soda. I love using Italian soda as a base for the cocktail because it’s so flavorful, fresh and easy to keep on hand. To the blood orange soda you add cocktail cherry syrup which is literally the syrup that cocktail cherries come packed in. It’s full of sweet cherry flavor, and makes the perfect addition to non-alcoholic drinks. Finally, the recipe calls for the addition of some fresh lemon juice and is then topped off with club soda, or if you want to keep it real Italian- San Pellegrino sparkling water. The tart lemon juice helps to cut the sweetness of the blood orange Italian soda, and cocktail cherry syrup. The sparkling water helps to add some extra bubbles and rounds everything out. 

I seriously can’t recommend this mocktail enough! I find it so sippable, and it’s a regular rotation for a fun but easy mocktail. You could also easily riff on this recipe by using other flavors of Italian soda like grapefruit or lemon soda. I think a soda featuring any of the citrus fruits would make an excellent base. 

Elderflower Mocktail

This Elderflower Mocktail is the non-alcoholic version of the popular Hugo Spritz. A traditional Hugo is a refreshing drink made with elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, and garnished with mint. When I went to Italy for the first time, I enjoyed Hugo Spritzes for their light effervescent flavor when compared with punchy and bright Aperol Spritzes. They both have their place of course, but Hugos are a bit more light and fresh than Aperol spritzes.  

How to make it

This non-alcoholic elderflower mocktail features an elderflower cordial that has all the yummy elderflower flavor but with no alcohol. It’s mixed with lime juice, extra bubbly mineral water (topo Chico for the win!) and garnished with mint- just like the traditional Italian beverage. 

Try this fizzy drink when you’re wanting something light, sweet, and refreshing. I also love having elderflower cordial on hand for featuring in other drinks. During citrus season, I frequently pair it with grapefruit to help balance the slightly bitter flavor and make for another simple, but fun mocktail. 

Peach Bellini

Next up on the list is a non-alcoholic peach Bellini. A traditional peach Bellini is made with peach purée and Prosecco. It’s got a bit of peachy texture, and fun bubbles from the Prosecco!

How to make it

For this mocktail peach Bellini recipe, you start by making a simple peach purée using jarred peach halves. The peaches blend easily into a sweet and flavorful purée. Next, the peach purée is added to a tall glass with a little bit of lemon juice and sparkling water, and the drink is ready!

This drink is perfect for the peach lovers out there as it’s peachy, bubbly, and fresh. Be sure to use good jarred peaches that you enjoy the flavor of as it’s the main flavor you’ll end up tasting in the drink.

When to serve these mocktails

Now that I’ve armed you with a list of delicious Italian mocktails, let me share some of the times I like to make them!

Aperitivo Hour

I love the casual and relaxed vibe of an at-home aperitivo hour. It’s essentially an at-home happy hour with a few drink and snack options. I like to feature a festive mocktail when I host aperitivo hours as a way to be considerate to guests who would prefer to avoid alcohol. I have a whole post dedicated to how to throw your own aperitivo hour, you can check it out here!

Cookbook Club/Dinner Party

I’ve mentioned this before, but I am part of a Cookbook Club that meets monthly to share dishes entirely from a single cookbook. One tradition that we started at our very first meeting was to start the night with a non-alcoholic beverage while we enjoy appetizers before moving on to drinks (usually wine) with dinner. I highly recommend this for your next dinner party! It feels so fun to start off with a celebratory mocktail before moving onto drinks with dinner. If you’re wanting more info on what a Cookbook Club is, check out this post!

At-Home Date Night

If you’re looking for a way to make your at-home date nights more special, try any one of these mocktails!

Brunch with Friends

While I do love a fun coffee moment at a brunch, mocktails can be a fun addition, too! I’ve served a champagne punch cocktail at a brunch before, why not serve an Italian punch mocktail!? You could pre-batch these mocktails, or leave the ingredients and recipes out for your guests to assemble themselves. You can check out my post on creating your own self-serve coffee bar and draw some inspiration from that to set up your own self-serve station!

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed this list of my top Italian mocktails to enjoy this summer! Whether you’ve got a dinner party featuring Italian cuisine, or just want to spice up a weeknight at home, I hope you enjoy sipping on these delightful drinks! Be sure to check out my other drink recipes for both cocktail and mocktail ideas. If you try any of these drinks, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below.