Especially outdoors during the day and in the early evening, at aperitivo hour, the spritz in all its variations is a firm favourite. Lav'a Belle can be prepared as a spritz in many different ways. Here are our best spritz recipes.

All variations are refreshing, light drinks with only around 3.6% ABV in total - or completely alcohol-free, of course, if you use our non-alcoholic version Liberté.

Ingredients

• 5 cl Lav'a Belle with or without alcohol
• 16 cl sparkling filler of your choice - see variations below
• Ice cubes

Garnish: sprig of rosemary (classic) - see variations below

Preparation
Fill an apéritif or wine glass with ice cubes, pour in the filler first, then add Lav‘a Belle and give it a quick stir if needed. Optionally garnish with a sprig of rosemary or a twist of lemon zest.

LAV'A BERRY (Wildberry)

Lav'a Belle with Wildberry is wonderfully fruity, combining the lavender and herbal notes with the pleasant sweetness of forest berries. Instead of rosemary, it also looks lovely garnished with (frozen) berries.

LAV'A LEMON CRUSH (Bitter Lemon)

If you like it fruity too, but a little more lemony and ever so slightly bitter, the Lemon Crush is a great choice. Some brands also offer a "zero" bitter lemon, which saves you a few calories.

LAV'A BELLE TONIC (Tonic Water)

The gentle bitterness of a tonic water complements the floral notes of Lav'a Belle beautifully and makes for a wonderfully fresh drink. Depending on whether you use "regular" Indian tonic, an extra-dry or a Mediterranean one, the drink turns out milder or a touch drier overall. If you like it more intense or a little sweeter, simply add an extra splash of Lav'a Belle.

NIZZA MULE (Ginger Beer)

Is it still a spritz or already a cocktail? If you like a hint of spice, this one's for you. Add a small squeeze of lemon if you like it extra spicy, and/or a drop of elderflower syrup if you prefer it a little softer and rounder. You can serve the Nizza Mule in a highball or a stemmed glass and garnish it with a piece of lime or ginger, depending on how you interpret it. Only the classic metal mug would be a shame here - you'd hide that beautiful colour.

RIVIERA SPRITZ (Sparkling Wine)

Sparkling wine brings out the herbs in Lav'a Belle. If you prefer it a little drier, this is the one to reach for. You can refine the "regular" spritz even further by adding a dash of syrup and liqueur. Well-known variations include the "Monaco Spritz" with extra lavender blossom syrup and the "Lavender sur Seine" with St. Germain elderflower liqueur.

PROVENCE SPRITZ (Wine & Water)

Even lighter and more traditional are spritz variations with white or rosé wine and mineral water - most "authentic", of course, with wine from Provence. But it can be done differently too: our pre-mix "Le Spritz", for example, is made with Austrian rosé.