The Modern Substitute has reviewed two alcohol-free spritzes that neatly embody the drink's two lineages. Spritz Del Conte's Non-Alcoholic Classico ($15.99 for a 750ml bottle) takes the Venetian route — grape must, bitter orange, and herbal extracts in the Aperol tradition. The reviewer found it a respectable ready-to-drink option, while noting stronger botanical-bitter alternatives exist for those who want more edge.
The standout was Little Saints' Hugo Spritz ($5 per can), built on the Alpine style: elderflower-forward with notes of lychee and pear, subtle mint, and the brand's signature mushroom blend adding an earthy undertone. The reviewer called it possibly his favorite Little Saints release to date.
The nutrition panel tells its own story: the Del Conte carries 175 calories and 40 grams of sugar per bottle, while the Little Saints can comes in at 5 calories and zero sugar — two very different answers to the question of how an AF spritz should be built.
The Cr(af)ted Take
That sugar gap is the story. Forty grams versus zero isn't a rounding difference — it's two philosophies of what replaces alcohol's structure. One leans on sweetness and body; the other builds from aromatics and botanicals. We've been clear about which approach we think ages better: sweetness is the easiest crutch in AF drinks and the fastest way to drink like a soda.
The broader signal: the spritz is quietly becoming AF's most competitive ready-to-drink format, because it never depended on alcohol's burn in the first place — it was always about bitterness, bubbles, and aroma. If you're building your own at home, elderflower, a bitter element, and aggressive carbonation will get you most of the way there.
Original reporting: The Modern Substitute →