Lyre’s, an Australian company that produces a range of nonalcoholic spirits, introduced its handsome bottles of faux gin, rum, whiskey, aperitifs and liqueurs to the American market last spring. Distillation figures in the company’s manufacture, but the two main ingredients are water and sugar. For me, they fell short, with the most acceptable being those that mimicked Italian aperitivos. Now to that subset, the company has added Italian Spritz, a bright ruby bittersweet concoction which, when poured over ice with a splash of soda and an orange slice, makes for an appealing drink. Orders are accepted now for delivery in December.
Lyre’s Italian Spritz, $36, lyres.com.
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