I’ve always imagined a European summer somewhere along the Côte d’Azur, maybe on the beach in Portofino, a straw hat tossed aside, soft house music slipping in from the distance. In my hand, something orange, chilled, fizzing — something in a glass that says “Aperol.”
Except, on my block, it’s an alcohol-free zone. And Aperol, with its prosecco-laced charm, doesn’t quite fit in.
Enter Santat Spritz, a non-alcoholic aperitif I found on a whim, first captivated by its color, that exact bold, sunlit orange, and then by its flavor — sharp, sophisticated, deeply bitter citrus. A near match to the original, and somehow more interesting for its restraint.
So I made a drink. A mocktail, yes, but one that still tastes like golden hour on the Italian Riviera. It’s cherry-rich, slightly sweet, and anchored by that signature Santat bite. I drank it in Houston, but in my mind, I was on a terrace somewhere, watching the sea catch fire at sunset.
Portofino Sunset Mocktail
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Muddle 8 pitted cherries with a splash of syrup in a cocktail shaker.
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Strain the cherry juice into a glass.
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Add ice and tuck in a few orange slices along the sides.
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Pour in a sweet Italian soda (or tonic water, for something drier) until the glass is about a quarter full.
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Stir gently.
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Top with Santat Spritz
…and toast to the soft glow of summer, to whatever coast we imagine for ourselves.