Autumn spirits: What should replace the summer spritz?

It’s official: 2026 has been a spritz summer. As we all collectively look to refreshing, lower abv drinks, the classic liqueur (or spirit)-plus-fizz-plus-soda recipe has ticked all our boxes. UK pub chain Greene King reported that spritzes accounted for 45% of its cocktail volumes between June and July, a 12% jump on the same period in 2025. An astonishing feat when you consider the enduring popularity of Margaritas and the ongoing social media hype around Dirty Martinis.

Another reason for the surge in popularity is the end of the Aperol Spritz supremacy. Data shared by liqueur brand St Germain showed that in 2026 UK Google searches for the Hugo Spritz overtook those for the Aperol Spritz for the first time. This is good news for everyone, as consumers increasingly understand the versatility of the cocktail style and embrace other spirits and liqueurs – and, most importantly, flavours – in their spritzy drinks.

With that in mind, who says the spritz needs to be taken off menus and sent into the hinterlands of winter hibernation come September? With these EU spirits, the cocktail can live on deliciously all year round.

Pálinka GI: the harvest-time spritz

Everyone associates autumn with the abundant fruits of harvest time, and Hungarian (and Austrian) brandy pálinka GI (geographical indication) captures this richness perfectly in spirit form. Depending on where you source your bottles, pálinka can be made from plum, apricot, pear, cherry and more – a mouthwatering reflection of the season. Just swap the pálinka in for your typical spritz liqueur, add sparkling wine and soda and add a touch of lemon juice or simple syrup if you need to balance it out. Simple, fun, and an incredibly easy one for consumers to understand.

Swedish aquavit GI: the Scandi spritz

A fun way to bring cosy autumnal flavours to life in crisp, refreshing form is the Scandi spritz. With savoury Swedish aquavit GI at its heart – (Norwegian and Danish styles also work well) – the cocktail’s dill and caraway herbaceousness is a perfect way to mark the changing seasons. Experiment with ginger syrup and cardamom bitters, balance with lemon juice and top with soda water to keep that classic spritz element. It’ll see you all the way through to winter, too.