Wilfred’s Aperitif Review with Photos and Recipes Tested

Wilfreds aperitif next to a non alcoholic spritz on a bocce court

Wilfred’s Aperitif review walks through all the mocktails tested and photos of the final products. After testing, I am happy to report that Wilfred’s is now on my list of go-to non-alcoholic aperitifs. It has an invigorating flavor that’s both sweet and bitter, with a hint of herbal aromatics. 

Wilfred’s Aperitif is made in London, founded by an inventor who wanted to design a new spritz. Goal achieved: this aperitif, combined with tonic water, makes a very delicious but uniquely flavored spritz. 

Bottom line: Wilfred’s Non-Alcoholic Aperitif is bold but balanced in flavor, and it makes delicious mocktails, as evidenced by the tested drinks below. 

Sweetened with beet juice, Wilfred’s tastes very sweet, but that sweetness is balanced with bitter orange and rosemary extracts mixed in the blend. It is a bold flavor, and the botanicals really shine when mixed with other ingredients in mocktails. 

Best enjoyed in: Wilfred’s Spritz

Even if you drink alcohol, non-alcoholic and low ABV cocktails are a great option for anyone trying to consume less calories or sugar. In the case of Wilfred’s Aperitif, one serving only has 21 calories and 5.25g of sugar. Alcoholic cocktails are usually much higher in both.

Ingredients, Nutrition, Storage

In order to thoughtfully review a product, it must be tested. Here’s the method taken for taste testing all non-alcoholic drinks.  

What does Wilfred’s Aperitif taste like…

  1. Neat
  2. On ice
  3. On ice with tonic or appropriate single mixer
  4. Brand recommended mocktails
  5. Get creative

#1: Neat

Sipped neat, Wilfred’s Aperitif is very sweet and equally bitter with a texture like a thin simple syrup. It also slightly herbal and smells a little of cinnamon or allspice. 

#2 On Ice

Adding ice to Wilfred’s makes it a little less syrupy. It seems a little less bitter and quite sweet on ice. 

#3 On Ice with Tonic

Wilfred’s and tonic water makes a Wilfred’s Spritz, one of the mocktails tested below. The bitterness in the quinine really helps to balance the sweetness of the aperitif. The rosemary and other botanical extracts in Wilfred’s Aperitif create a uniquely flavored spritz, and it’s delicious. 

#4 Brand Recommended Mocktails Featuring Wilfred’s Aperitif

One of the major components of testing a product includes taste-testing brand recommended mocktails. One might assume brand recommended drinks are the best way to enjoy a non-alcoholic spirit, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. Luckily all of these mocktails are great, so get mixing!

Zero Proof Negroni

non alcoholic Negroni with Wilfreds aperitif and orange peel

Ingredients

100 ml Wilfred’s Aperitif 

15 ml Fresh Grapefruit 

3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Directions

Place a large chunk of ice into an old fashioned glass. Add ingredients and gently stir allowing the ice to melt. Garnish with an orange peel twirl.

Verdict: Because Wilfred’s is so sweet, I did not have high expectations for this mocktail. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and went back for a second. There is still sweetness, but the grapefruit and bitters really blend well with Wilfred’s. To be clear, the name is a little misleading – this does not taste at all like a negroni cocktail, but made in the spirit of one. 

Ginger London Mule

squeezing a lime into a mule mocktail
mule mocktail with lime slices made with Wilfreds non alcoholic aperitif

Ingredients:

50ml Wilfred’s Aperitif

100ml Ginger Beer 

Squeeze of fresh lime juice

Directions:

Pour Wilfred’s into a large collins glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a wedge of lime and a slice of ginger.

Verdict: Loved this drink. Ginger beer works really well with a bitter aperitif. I learned this with Ghia, and now there are two non-alcoholic aperitif options for this style of cocktail. 

Lime Sour Fred’s 

pink mocktail made with lime juice Wilfreds aperitif and egg white

Ingredients:

75 ml Wilfred’s Aperitif 

25 ml lime juice

15 ml simple syrup 

1 dash egg white (or 25ml aquafaba chickpea water, for a vegan alternative)

Directions:

Pour all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice. Shake until foamy. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Verdict: Tart, tasty, and fun to mix and serve. This is a very pretty drink, and would be a great non-alcoholic cocktail for serving at a party.

#5 Get Creative

Since spritzes are a favorite beverage of mine, I tried comparing two non-alcoholic versions of the classic spritz cocktail using Wilfred’s Aperitif. One is a brand recommended cocktail and the other a variation on a classic spritz (like an Aperol spritz), but with a delicious non-alcoholic wine.  

Non-Alcoholic Spritz by Wilfred’s

Wilfreds aperitif next to a non alcoholic spritz on a  bocce court

Ingredients:

50ml Wilfred’s Aperitif

100ml Premium Tonic Water

Directions

Serve in a large wine glass with plenty of ice. Garnish with a slice of orange.

Verdict

Very delicious. Sweet with some bitterness. I prefer this over the Lyre’s Spritz Pitcher, and would drink this any time. 

Spritz Mocktail

table setting by a pool with non alcoholic spritz and bottles

Ingredients

90ml Noughty Brut Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine

60ml Wilfred’s Aperitif

30ml or a splash of club soda

Directions:

Fill a wine glass with ice and build the mocktail with sparkling wine, then aperitif, then club soda. Garnish with an orange wheel. 

Verdict: This is just okay. I love both products used in this mocktail, but since Wilfred’s is so sweet, it really needs to be balanced with the bitterness in the tonic water. Save your Noughty Non Alcoholic Wine for drinking by itself. It shines on its own. 

Where to Buy Wilfred’s Aperitif

bottle of non alcoholic aperitif Wilfreds

Click here for the best available price on Wilfred’s Aperitif.

Conclusion

After all the taste tests, Wilfred’s non-alcoholic aperitif proved itself as a reliable product for the cocktail enthusiast making alcohol free drinks. It is hard to pick a favorite from the mocktail tests, because they were all delicious!  

This is one non-alcoholic beverage you’ll want to keep on your shelf – mix it with alcoholic spirits for a low-ABV drink or make a mocktail like the ones tested above. Hopefully this Wilfred review was helpful in deciding which non alcoholic aperitifs to explore for your mocktails. These are just a few non-alcoholic aperitif recipes you could make, but the possibilities are endless. Grab a bottle and try it yourself.

If you have tried Wilfred’s Aperitif in mocktails, snap a pic and tag @masterofmocktails or #masterofmocktails on the Instagram page. It’s always great to see what others are making with non-alcoholic spirits!

Wilfred’s Aperitif Ingredients and Nutrition

Ingredients: Water, Natural Botanical Distillates and Extracts, English Beet Sugar, Citric Acid, Concentrates (Safflower, Lemon, Carrot, Blackcurrant); Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Storage

Store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Once open, keep refrigerated and consume within 4 weeks. For use by date see base of bottle. 

Nutrition: Serving size 50ml | 21 calories, Fat 0g, Sodium 0mg,  Carbohydrates 5.25g,  Total Sugars 5.25g, Protein 0g; SUITABLE FOR VEGANS, FREE FROM ALLERGENS*

*Nutrition information was found on the bottle and might be subject to change.

Angela T.
Hi, I’m Angela! Ever since alternative beverages made their debut, I’ve been on a mission to find the best. As someone who loves wine and making craft cocktails, I approach each new beverage with curiosity and a healthy dose of skepticism. I hope these honest reviews will help you learn which non-alcoholic drinks are best for you.