There's no escaping the fact that this week everyone will be talking about the weather (did you see that it's going to be 28 degrees on Thursday!) but one thing I'm most interested in, is what cold drinks I'll be having to help myself cool down in the heat.
One drink I always go back to (in case you were wondering), time and time again, is a non-alcoholic aperitif called Crodino. It's from Campari group (yep, the same company behind Campari AND Aperol) and Crodino is basically an exact replica of Aperol, but completely alcohol-free.
If you love the bittersweet taste of an Aperol, with its botanicals and orange-tasting flavour, you'll become obsessed with Crodino, just like I am. It's the perfect solution when you want something super refreshing midweek (Tuesday evening 'drinks' anyone?) and also makes a really great alternative if you want to make a lower ABV Aperol Spritz.
I always buy my supply of Crodino from Amazon because they almost always have a really good discount on (like right now - 3x175ml bottles for £6!) and it means I can order it to arrive as quickly as possible - perfect for this very unexpected mini heatwave.
The best way to drink Crodino, in my opinion, is in a tall glass topped up with plenty of ice, and with a splash of soda water to cut through the bitterness slightly. But if you wanted to create an Aperol Spritz using Crodino (like I regularly do), you can follow the same 3:2:1 ratio to make it (this is what I use and it tastes perfect):
Crodino Spritz Recipe:
- 1x 100ml Crodino bottle
- 60ml non-alcoholic Prosecco
- 30ml Soda water
- Slice of orange, to garnish
Method:
- In a tall glass filled with ice, pour in the Crodino, Prosecco and soda water. Give it a good mix and garnish with a slice of orange, if you like.
Don't believe the hype? It was also the winner in our best non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs for 2025 - as tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, scoring 81/100 and labelled as 'best non-alcoholic aperitif' on test. If that isn't enough convincing, I don't know what is.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
