Blood Orange Spritz
A bright, bitter-sweet spritz with a citrus lift.
Published Apr 24, 2026
5 MINS
EASY
MOCKTAIL
About the Drink
This blood orange spritz captures everything that makes a great aperitivo drink: bitterness, citrus brightness and lively bubbles. It’s layered and refreshing rather than overly sweet, making it feel just as considered as a classic spritz.
Using a sparkling blood orange drink creates the backbone of the mocktail, while grapefruit juice sharpens the citrus and a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif adds the distinctive bittersweet edge that gives the drink its grown-up flavour.
INGREDIENTS
30 ml grapefruit juice
25 ml non-alcoholic bitter aperitif or bitter orange syrup
Tiny pinch sea salt
165 ml blood orange sparkling drink
Ice
Orange slice and orange peel twist, to garnish
METHOD
1.
Fill a large balloon wine glass generously with ice.
2.
Pour in the grapefruit juice and non-alcoholic bitter aperitif.
3.
Add a tiny pinch of fine sea salt and stir briefly to dissolve it into the mix.
4.
Top with the chilled blood orange sparkling drink.
5.
Stir gently once or twice, just enough to bring everything together without losing the bubbles.
6.
Hold a strip of blood orange peel over the glass and give it a quick squeeze to release the citrus oils, then drop it into the drink.
7.
Finish with a fresh slice of blood orange. Serve immediately while it is cold and sparkling.
Tips
Use a good sparkling blood orange drink. Choose one made with real citrus rather than something overly sweet. A bright, slightly bitter flavour makes the drink taste far more sophisticated.
The salt is subtle but important. A tiny pinch of salt enhances the citrus and balances sweetness. You shouldn’t taste the salt, but it helps the drink feel more complex and refined.
Express the peel. Twisting the blood orange peel over the drink releases fragrant citrus oils. This aromatic lift is a small detail that makes the mocktail feel much more polished.
Serve it very cold. Use plenty of ice and well-chilled ingredients so the drink stays crisp and refreshing.
Nutritional Information
Serves 1. Approx per serve:
Calories: 85 | Carbs: 19G | Protein: 0.5G | Fiber: 0.5G | Sodium: 0.1G | Sugars: 17G
Hi, I'm Samantha Tulett
I’m the cook, writer, and recipe developer behind City Slicker.
This is my Friday Drinks series, where I share easy, delicious cocktails and mocktails to help you mix up something fun and get the weekend started right.
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