Non-alcoholic aperitif: Bitter Zero with Citrus
A non-alcoholic aperitif in two simple steps: Citrus, 4 cl of non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, a slice of orange and ice filled to the brim – the recipe from our menu.
A non-alcoholic aperitif, made in the style of a Spritz: Bitter Zero consists of Citrus, 4 cl of non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, a slice of orange and ice filled to the brim. In our cocktail guide, it’s described as ‘the aperitif for those who are driving’. You’ll need two things: a bottle and a can.
The recipe
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ACQUA REAPER Citrus | 1 can, 330 ml |
| Non-alcoholic bitter aperitif | 4 cl |
| orange slice | 1 slice |
| Ice cubes | to the brim |
- Fill the glass to the brim with ice.
- Add 4 cl of non-alcoholic bitter aperitif and Citrus.
- Serve with a slice of orange.
For several guests: chill the cans to 4 °C beforehand. If you’re mixing the drinks in advance, just pour the bitter aperitif into the jug – carbonated varieties should only be added to the glass just before serving.
What is an aperitif?
The word comes from the French ‘apéritif’ and derives from the Latin ‘aperire’, meaning ‘to open’; the short form is ‘Apéro’. The Duden dictionary defines an aperitif as an alcoholic drink. Bitter Zero is the non-alcoholic version – in the bar section of our mix analysis, it appears in the ‘Non-alcoholic’ row alongside Virgin Paloma and Green Zero.
What to look out for when choosing a bitter aperitif
- Sugar: Citrus contains 0 g of sugar per 100 ml and no sweeteners. The nutritional information table shows how much sugar this bitter aperitif contains – energy, carbohydrates and sugar are listed per 100 ml.
- Alcohol: A drink is only required to state its alcohol content if it is 1.2 per cent by volume or higher. For example, ‘alcohol-free’ is not legally defined in the case of beer; the term is not contested for drinks containing up to 0.5 per cent by volume. If the label states 0.0 per cent, the information must be accurate.
- Citrus: According to the label, the ingredients are water, carbon dioxide, citric acid (as an acidifier) and natural citrus flavouring – alcohol is not listed on the list of ingredients.
Other non-alcoholic aperitifs from our menu
- Pink Grapefruit
- salt rim
- Lime eighth
- 2 dashes of non-alcoholic bitters
- lots of ice
Reaper Frizz
- Sparkling
- 3 cl freshly squeezed lemon and grapefruit juice
- Rosemary
- frozen wine glass
Intended as a glass to be served to guests on arrival, before they have ordered.
You can find all our non-alcoholic recipes under ‘Mocktails’ and everything to do with leaving out alcohol in the ‘Non-alcoholic’ section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to make a non-alcoholic spritzer?
For Bitter Zero: one can of Citrus, 4 cl of non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, a slice of orange and ice to the brim.
Is Bitter Zero sugar-free?
Citrus contains 0 g of sugar per 100 ml. Whether the whole drink is sugar-free depends on the bitter aperitif – its nutrition facts table will tell you.
Is a non-alcoholic aperitif really alcohol-free?
Not necessarily. If the alcohol content is below 1.2 per cent by volume, it does not have to be stated, and in the case of beer, the term ‘alcohol-free’ is accepted for products containing up to 0.5 per cent by volume. If you want zero alcohol, look out for the 0.0 % label – that must be correct.
What does ‘aperitif’ mean?
The word comes from the French ‘apéritif’, which in turn comes from the Latin ‘aperire’, meaning ‘to open’.
Sources
- ACQUA REAPER: Citrus product label, test dated 17 July 26.
- Duden: Aperitif, accessed 16 September 2026. duden.de
- Consumer Advice Centre: Food labelling: What information must be included?, as at 26 March 25. verbraucherzentrale.de
- Food Transparency (Federal Association of Consumer Organisations): Why can beer containing alcohol be labelled as ‘non-alcoholic’? As at 26 March 26. lebensmittelklarheit.de
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