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

1. Muddle 8 pitted cherries with a splash of syrup in a cocktail shaker.

2. Strain the cherry juice into a glass.

3. Add ice and tuck in a few orange slices along the sides.

4. Pour in a sweet Italian soda (or tonic water, for something drier) until the glass is about a quarter full.

5. Stir gently.

6. Top with Santat Spritz

…and toast to the soft glow of summer, to whatever coast we imagine for ourselves.