This Sparkling Lemon & Mint Spritz is fresh, aromatic, and perfectly balanced between citrus brightness and cool herbal notes. Itโs ideal for warm spring and summer days, garden parties, brunches, or as a light aperitif.
Thereโs something magical about a glass of lemon spritz on a warm afternoon. This Lemon & Fresh Mint Spritz is fragrant, naturally light, and perfect for spring aperitifs, summer lunches, garden parties, or simply when you need something refreshing and uplifting.
Unlike classic Italian spritz cocktails like the famous Aperol Spritz, this version is citrus-forward, herbal, and can be served completely alcohol-free or with a splash of gin or rum.
And yes โ weโll also cover a sugar-free keto-friendly option.
Why Youโll Love This Lemon & Mint Spritz
- Fresh and aromatic thanks to fresh mint
- Bright and naturally lemony
- Perfect for perfect for spring brunches and hot summer days
- Easy to make alcoholic or non-alcoholic
- Can be made low-calorie or completely sugar-free
Why Fresh Mint?
Fresh mint adds a cooling, aromatic note to drinks and pairs beautifully with lemon. If fresh mint is unavailable, you can substitute with lemon balm, but the flavor will be slightly different.
Lemon & Mint Spritz Ingredients
- Cold water
- Cold sparkling water
- Lemons
- Fresh mint leaves
- Sugar or sweetener of choice (stevia, erythritol, allulose)
- Gin or white Rum (only for Alcoholic Version)
How to Make Your Lemon & Mint Spritz
Creating this refreshing spritz is easier than it sounds, and the result is a bright, bubbly drink thatโs perfect for spring and summer. Hereโs how to do it step by step.
Make the Simple Syrup
If youโre using sugar, itโs best to make a simple syrup so it dissolves completely:
In a small saucepan, combine equal parts sugar and water (for example, 50 g sugar + 50 ml water). Heat gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let it cool completely before adding it to your lemon base.
If youโre using a liquid sweetener like stevia, monk fruit, or a keto syrup, you can skip this step โ it mixes easily at room temperature.
Optional alternative โ liquid glucose: If you prefer, instead of making a syrup from sugar, you can use liquid glucose. It dissolves perfectly even in cold liquids and keeps the drinkโs texture smooth and uniform. Just keep in mind that liquid glucose is not low-calorie and will affect blood sugar levels, so itโs not suitable for a keto or zero-sugar version.
Prepare the Mint Infusion
Start by taking your fresh mint leaves and placing them in a small bowl. Add just a teaspoon of water to help with the muddling process, then gently crush the leaves using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon. The goal here is to release the essential oils and the natural aroma of the mint without tearing the leaves too much. This simple step will give your spritz a wonderfully fresh, herbal note that perfectly complements the zesty lemon.
Prepare the Lemon Base
Next, grab a large pitcher and pour in your cold water and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add your sweetener of choice โ sugar, stevia, or any keto-friendly alternative โ and stir well until it is completely dissolved. Now, gently fold in the crushed mint leaves. This is where the magic happens: the citrusy brightness of the lemon blends beautifully with the cool, aromatic mint, creating the base of your spritz. Cover the pitcher and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour so the flavors can meld together. If you want to prepare in advance, you can make the base a day or two ahead โ just keep it refrigerated for up to 2โ3 days.
Assemble the Spritz (Non-Alcoholic Version)
When youโre ready to serve, give the chilled lemon-mint base a quick stir to refresh the flavors. Take a glass and place a fresh slice of lemon at the bottom or on the rim for a touch of elegance. Fill the glass about halfway with the lemon-mint mixture, then slowly top it off with sparkling water to give it that light, bubbly sensation. Gently stir to combine, and finish by adding a few sprigs of fresh mint for garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing taste!
Optional โ Alcoholic Version
If you want a slightly stronger spritz, this base works beautifully with gin or white rum. Before adding the sparkling water, pour in about 30 ml of your chosen spirit into each glass. Give it a gentle stir to incorporate the flavors, then top with sparkling water and garnish with fresh mint. Gin, in particular, pairs wonderfully with mint, enhancing the herbal notes while keeping the drink light and refreshing.
Sugar-Free & Keto-Friendly Option
For a low-carb version of this Mint and Lemon Spritz, replace sugar or simple syrup with liquid stevia, erythritol syrup, allulose syrup, or liquid monk fruit. The flavors remain fresh and bright, but the drink becomes virtually zero-calorie and keto-friendly.
Variations
- Add a few cucumber slices for a spa-style twist
- Mix half lemon juice with half orange juice for softer citrus notes
- Serve over crushed ice for a classic spritz feel
- Add a thin slice of ginger for a slightly spicy note
Storage Tips
One of the great things about this Lemon & Mint Spritz is that you can prepare the base in advance, making it perfect for parties or busy days. To keep the flavors fresh and vibrant, store the lemon-mint mixture in the refrigerator for up to 2โ3 days. This way, the citrusy brightness of the lemon and the aromatic mint remain perfectly infused without losing their freshness.
When it comes time to serve, always add the sparkling water just before pouring the drink into glasses. This ensures that the spritz stays bubbly and lively, rather than going flat.
If youโre serving multiple guests, itโs best to assemble each glass individually rather than pre-mixing the sparkling water with the base in a large pitcher. This keeps each serving fresh, fizzy, and perfectly balanced, giving everyone the full refreshing experience of the spritz.
Sparkling Lemon & Mint Spritz (Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic)
Ingredients
- 500 ml cold water
- 80 g freshly squeezed lemon juice about 2 large lemons
- 20 g fresh mint leaves
- 50 g sugar or sweetener of choice
- 50 ml water for simple syrup, if using sugar
- 1 lemon sliced
- 350 ml cold sparkling water
- 30 ml gin or white rum per glass
Equipment
Method
- In a small saucepan, combine 50 g sugar and 50 ml water. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool completely. If using liquid sweetener (stevia, monk fruit, allulose syrup), you can skip this step.
- Optional: Instead of making a simple syrup, you may use liquid glucose. It dissolves easily even in cold liquids and keeps the texture smooth. However, it is not low-calorie and not suitable for keto diets.
- Place the fresh mint leaves in a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of water and gently crush them using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to release their aroma and essential oils.
- In a large pitcher, combine cold water, fresh lemon juice, cooled simple syrup or chosen sweetener. Stir well until fully combined.
- Add the crushed mint leaves and mix gently.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to infuse.
- When ready to serve stir the chilled lemon-mint base.
- Place a slice of lemon in each glass. Fill the glass halfway with the lemon-mint mixture. Top with sparkling water.
- Stir gently and garnish with fresh mint.
- Serve immediately.
- When ready to serve stir the chilled lemon-mint base.
- Place a slice of lemon in each glass. Fill the glass halfway with the lemon-mint mixture.
- Add 30 ml gin or white rum to each glass. Stir gently.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with fresh mint and serve immediately.
Notes
- Add sparkling water only just before serving to keep the drink fizzy.
- Store the lemon-mint base refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- For a keto-friendly version, use liquid stevia, monk fruit, erythritol syrup, or allulose syrup.
- Liquid glucose can be used instead of sugar syrup, but it is not low-calorie.
