If, like my mum, you've never heard of Aperol until now - it's an Italian bitter apéritif, known for its distinctive bright orange colour and unique bittersweet taste. In my non-expert opinion, it tastes like boozy orange peel, but add it to prosecco with a splash of soda water and it creates something magical... Aperol Spritz.

Art of Italicus captures the inspiration behind Giuseppe’s vision, the brilliance of the liquid and the creative excellence that lies behind the standout design,” said Rowan Miller, creative director at Stranger and Stranger. The VK Glow Up Fresher’s Tour will take place on 50 dates, featuring UV effects and merchandise giveaways across UK cities. It also features a ‘striking white’ to resemble the Greek islands. Distilled and bottled in Greece, Mataroa Gin uses ingredients from the countries of the Mediterranean. Co-founder George Bagos said: “We are delighted to work with Cask Liquid Marketing, a company that shares the same passion and philosophy as Three Cents. The campaign is aiming to hit 27 million impressions over the next month, reaching drinkers in eight different consumer touchpoints.Aperol has become such a popular summer drink that many of the big name supermarkets are now selling cheaper versions (Image: Emily Collis/BirminghamLive) We put the cheaper alternatives from M&S, Asda, Lidl and Aldi to the test against the real deal. One of them wasn't worth the money but one supermarket apéritif was just as tasty as the original. Here's how we got on... Aperol It came second in our taste test. There was a really rich caramel and orange flavour. When you shut your eyes and smelt it, you could imagine it warm at Christmas time quite easily. Beginning this month, three Fair Trade-certified BLK & Bold blends will hit shelves across the US on BLK & Bold and Keurig digital platforms and at Target and Albertson’s, with more retailers to be added throughout the year. Varieties include:

Made using Pinot Noir from one of Chapel Down’s vineyards in the heart of Kent and wild fermented eau de vie made with raspberries fresh from the Cotswolds, Aker prides itself on bringing out the true character of its finest English ingredients. This has the most vibrant colour and is a new release by Morrisons - which is perhaps why it was positioned right at the entrance of the shop I went to. They are selling it as a way "to enjoy a classic Summer Spritz for less". And that it is as it is the joint cheapest of the options we taste tested. Ukrainian vodka brand Nemiroff signed a distribution deal with spirits importer Disaronno International.

Aperol has got to be the ultimate summer drink. Possibly a controversial opinion, but give me a big cold glass of that bitter orange fizz over a Pimm's any day. The Aperitivo smelled a lot boozier, as well, so it wasn't surprising that it tasted more alcoholic than the first two. The taste was very similar to Aperol's - not quite as sweet, but the same zesty orange flavour and colour, with a strong but pleasant aftertaste. Warren Scott, founder of Kliro Capital Partners, commented: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of ICB. It is a good business with a strong leadership team and we believe that there is significant potential for growth both in the UK and beyond.

A couple of my testers said they could have happily had this as an evening drink rather than in the sun as it had such a rich flavour. Plenty going on and a bargain price.

Made with bitter, sweet orange and herbal flavours, it is recommended mixed with soda and Prosecco to create a Spritz. The Aperol flavours were all there, but this one was sweeter and fruitier. A good option if you're on the fence about Aperol and find the bitterness a little overpowering. Personally, I like the sharpness of Aperol, so I preferred the original, but Apertini is a tasty alternative - and great value for money. M&S Aperitivo With consumer behavior shifting to more awareness around health, provenance, and a thirst for appreciating all things home-grown, Aker’s founder, Ian Bayliss, says now is the perfect time to launch.