Beloved by sophisticated Italians and boozy Brits alike, it's impossible to name a more summery drink than Aperol Spritz.
And even though the drizzly weather of late doesn't exactly scream lazy lunch overlooking Lake Como, I've decided to crack open a bottle of the syrupy sunshine myself, in the name of attracting a much-needed British heatwave.
Alfresco drinks taste all the more refreshing when they haven't cost the Earth, and with this in mind, I'm on the look-out for a delicious Aperol Spritz dupe that I can serve to summer guests while having plenty left over for ice lollies.
But can supermarket fakes ever do justice to the iconic Padua apéritif? To find out, I've pitted a bottle of the 'real' stuff against Aldi and Tesco lookalikes. Whether or not they taste alike is of course a different matter entirely.
To keep things fair, because let's face it, we're all guilty of being swayed by labels, I've decided to carry out this test blindfolded - no easy feat after a few sips I can tell you.
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I opted for the classic recipe when it came to mixing (Julia Banim)First things first, it's time to shake my cocktail shaker. There are plenty of different Aperol Spritz variations out there - with a lemonade option for sweeter tooths - but I've decided to keep things simple, opting for the classic recipe on the official Aperol Spritz website.
Trusty measuring jug at the ready, grab yourself a large wine glass - or a gin globe - and chuck in a few cubes of ice. Then pour in 75 ml of Prosecco - I opted for the deliciously peachy Tesco Finest Prosecco Brut for £5 - and 50ml Aperol. The OG tippls costs £17 for a litre at Tesco (with a Clubcard) or £14 for 70cl on Ocado.
I tried each of the beverages blindfolded (Julia Banim)Top off your beverage with 25ml of soda water (65p for a bottle of Tesco's own), and garnish with a juicy slice of orange. Then simply find yourself a nicely warmed deckchair - if you're lucky - and enjoy. Now, it's not part of the recipe but I always make sure to give my Aperol Spritz a careful stir to get that bittersweet flavour circulating nicely.
I didn't have to put this work into Tesco's innovatively handy Blood Orange Spritz, which comes ready mixed in the bottle. A lazy girl's dream.
After whipping up my three rival beverages, I labelled each one accordingly and popped on my blindfold, asking my catering assistant (thanks, mum) to hand me a glass one at a time while keeping schtum. I must stress that it probably isn't wise to handle alcohol or glass with your eyes covered - and one perfectly good gin glass was lost to this experiment.
Aldi
Aperini Superiore - £6.49 for a 70 cl bottle.
A bottle of Aperini Superiore will set you back £6.49 (Julia Banim)
It certainly didn't taste as cheap as it was (Julia Banim)Unbeknown to me, the very first beverage I tried was the cheapest - but it certainly didn't taste it. This one packed a surprisingly strong, sugary punch, and had a more syrupy consistency than the others. That full, vibrant taste we Aperol aficionados know and love was very much there, with all the gorgeously tart bursts of citrus and rhubarb sending my tastebuds singing.
Honestly, at £6.49 - less than what you'd pay for a single glass down the pub - this drink doesn't need to be as yummy or as bang-on as it is. There's enough to serve all your BBQ guests, who unless they have the palate of Gordon Ramsay, will be unlikely to notice the difference. Chin, chin, and most importantly, Kerching.
The original
Aperol Aperitivo - £17 for 1L bottle (Tesco Clubcard Price)
Lipsmacking - but not my favourite (Julia Banim)
The priciest of the bunch, but a classic (Julia Banim)Naturally, the regular bottle proved to be a lip-smacking bittersweet treat, with each fresh, fruity mouthful transporting me to beer gardens past, present and future. When taken in sips alongside the Aldi option, the differences were surprisingly slight. The regular version did however have a more natural, herbaceous taste to it that will likely appeal to Aperol purests.
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At £17, this quality bevvy is the priciest on my list, but given you'll get 20 servings out of it if you stick to your measurements, this arguably still makes for a thrifty enough purchase, especially if a few of you are chipping in. A fragrant, moreish delight, but to my great astonishment, not my favourite...
Tesco
Tesco Blood Orange Spritzi - £5 for 750ml bottle
The perfect addition for your next picnic (Julia Banim)
The pre-mixed idea is inspired - but the distinct taste wasn't quite there (Julia Banim)Launched for National Picnic Week (w/c June 17), this elegant bottle would elevate any Instagrammable picnic table, with the pre-mixed concept meaning you won't have to bring along the entirety of your drinks cabinet to your local park.
As someone very partial to a pre-mixed cocktail (shout-out to M&S's incomparable range), I was excited to give it a try. The colouring is slightly lighter than the ruby red hue I'm used to, and from the off, I felt as though I was drinking a different sort of beverage. Although it didn't exactly disappoint, I have to say the flavours here are much softer and more subtle than your typical Aperol Spritz, and in some ways, it reminded me of the drink's less raved-about cousin, the Limoncello Spritz.
The signature juiciness just wasn't there for me, although there was a pleasant botanical, almost flowery note to it that may appeal to those who don't like the heavy quinine undercurrent of traditional Aperol drinks. An ideal friend group compromise perhaps, for what is admittedly a bit of a Marmite liqueur.
At £5, you can get around six servings in total, which isn't bad going. Pop it in your handbag for outdoor events, but go for something stronger at home if you're a real Aperol purist.
The verdict
I was amazed when I took my blindfold off (Julia Banim)Before taking off my blindfold, I put Aldi in the top spot, followed closely by the classic Aperol. I was pretty stunned when I realised, but after finishing both glasses, I must stick to my choice. The Aperini Superiore is a formidably good dupe, so much so that I incorrectly believed I was drinking the real deal. And at a fraction of the price, it's a no-brainer for thrifty savers.
In third place, I put the Tesco Blood Orange Spritzi. Although I love the premix concept, the flavour was just not as punchy as the other contenders in the mix, and wouldn't be my first choice for at-home sipping.
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