NØLO Recipe: The Bitter Italian
Aug 07, 2026
Bitter, bubbly, citrusy, and very grown-up. The Bitter Italian turns a proper Italian amaro into an effortless booze-free spritz.
Dr. ZeroZero AmarNo brings earthy bitterness, orange, rhubarb, sage, and a beautifully dry finish. Freixenet Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Brut adds lively bubbles and bright citrus, while a splash of club soda keeps the whole thing light enough for a warm afternoon.
It’s not particularly fruity. It’s definitely not sugary. And it doesn’t taste like a consolation prize.
The Story
The classic spritz formula is simple: sparkling wine, something bitter, and soda. Most versions use a bright orange aperitivo, but AmarNo takes the drink somewhere darker and more interesting. We like that. A lot.
Made in Italy with sage, Chinese rhubarb, wormwood, quassia, and orange, Dr. ZeroZero AmarNo has the earthy, herbal complexity of a traditional after-dinner amaro. The sparkling wine lifts those deeper flavors, and the orange garnish pulls forward the citrus already hiding in the bottle.
Because AmarNo is richer and more concentrated than a typical spritz aperitivo, we use a slightly lighter pour. You still get plenty of bitterness without losing the bubbles—or the desire to have a second one.
Ingredients
Makes one drink.
- 1½ oz Dr. ZeroZero AmarNo
- 3 oz chilled dry sparkling white (works great: Freixenet Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Brut)
- 1 oz chilled club soda
- Orange wheel or wide orange peel
- Ice
Make It
Fill a large wine glass generously with ice.
Add the AmarNo, followed by the sparkling brut and club soda. Stir gently...once or twice is plenty.
Garnish with an orange wheel. If using a peel, express the oils over the glass before dropping it in.
Use cold ingredients and plenty of ice. A half-filled glass melts faster and gives you a watery spritz. This is not the moment to ration ice.
Lazy Barkeep Verdict: Three pours, one gentle stir, and absolutely no shaker. Bitter people with no time for foolishness or shenanigans, this one’s for you.
Andiamo! 🇮🇹
