These Aperol cocktails are the best ways to use this tasty Italian aperitif! Mix it with everything from bubbles to bourbon.
Got a bottle of Aperol and not sure how to use it? Everyone’s favorite Aperol Spritz is the most popular way to use it, but never fear: there are so many other ways! Mix it into the modern classic Paper Plane with bourbon, or combine it with pineapple and rum for a refreshing fruity drink. You can even pour it into beer for a refreshing spin on the spritz (yes, it’s a thing!).
And now…the best Aperol cocktails!
Bubbly, citrusy, herbal, subtly bitter and lightly sweet…it’s the most classic Aperol cocktail of them all. Meet the Aperol spritz! Aka Spritz Veneziano, it's an Italian aperitif: a drink for before a meal. The spritz was invented back in the 1800’s in Italy as a way to water down sparkling wine. The Aperol version became a classic in the 1950's and people have been drinking it ever since.
Ingredients: Aperol, champagne, soda water
If you’re an avid homemade cocktail drinker, then here’s a must-make Aperol cocktail: the Paper Plane! This one is a brilliant study in balance and contrast. It’s bitter, sweet and tangy all at once, hitting a magical synergy between the bourbon and amaro. It features bourbon, Aperol and amaro, and was created in 2007 by bartender Sam Ross.
Ingredients: Aperol, bourbon, amaro, lemon juice
Looking for an Aperol spin on the most classic Italian cocktail? Enter: the Aperol Negroni! It’s equal parts refreshing, bitter, and complex. The bright orange of the Aperol makes for a stunning jewel-tone statement of a drink. This 3-ingredient cocktail is easy to make because it uses 1 ounce of each of its three components.
Ingredients: Aperol, gin, sweet vermouth
The Naked and Famous cocktail is as impressive as its name…from first sip! This Aperol cocktail has only four ingredients but beautifully balanced, the perfect harmony of smoky, citrus, bitter and sweet. This modern cocktail was created in 2011 by bartender Joaquín Simó in New York City. But it’s got nods to the past alluding to a historic equal parts cocktail, the Last Word.
Ingredients: Aperol, mezcal, Chartreuse, lime
Here’s one of the easiest Aperol cocktails there is: the Spaghett! This fun cocktail is hardly a recipe at all, and it’s built right in a beer bottle. It’s a play on an Aperol spritz, with bubbles come from beer instead of Prosecco. It’s lightly sweet, zingy, and refreshing: here to revolutionize your summer cocktail repertoire.
Ingredients: Aperol, lemon juice, light beer
Aperol isn’t just for using in the mega-popular Aperol spritz! We’ve whipped up a modern classic-style cocktail that we think it even better than a spritz, if that’s possible! Mix Aperol with rum, lime and pineapple juice, and it comes out sweet tart, almost like grapefruit, almost tropical with a subtly bitter finish.
Ingredients: Aperol, white rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup
Here’s a unique Aperol cocktail: the Aperol Garibaldi! This Italian cocktail has 2 ingredients, which makes it supremely easy to mix up. The original Garibaldi uses Campari: but why not substitute it with Aperol? It comes out balanced and refreshing, with bitter, sweet and tangy notes all intermingling in the perfect sip.
Ingredients: Aperol, fresh orange juice
What's better than combining this popular liqueur with everyone's favorite tequila drink? This spin on the margarita features bright citrus, Aperol, and tequila. Cheers to warm summer nights with this easy cocktail recipe! via The Cookie Rookie
Ingredients: Aperol, tequila, orange juice, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice
Here’s a light and refreshing classic cocktail that’s perfect for summer afternoons: the Americano! It’s bitter, complex and bubbly all at once! It's typically made with Campari, but swap in Aperol and it's both sophisticated and carefree at the same time.
Ingredients: Aperol, sweet vermouth, soda water
Why not make a frozen version of the popular spritz? This Frozen Aperol Spritz has a vibrant sunset-orange hue. It's filled with Aperol, orange juice, strawberries and Prosecco, then blended up into a frozen frothy cocktail.
Ingredients: Aperol, orange juice, frozen strawberries, Prosecco
More about Aperol
Aperol is a Italian aperitif, a liquor designed for sipping before a meal. It was invented in Padua, Italy in 1919 by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. The company that sells Campari, Gruppo Campari, bought Aperol in the 1990s.
Aperol is bright orange in color and it has a sweet, citrusy flavor. It’s more approachable than its cousin liqueur Campari, which is bright red and extremely bitter (see Campari vs Aperol). It’s great in the popular spritz, or even just watered down with soda water.
Compared to other liquors, Aperol is mid-priced. A 750 ml bottle costs $20 to $35.
More amaro-based cocktails
Italian amari are a family of bitter liqueurs that range from sweet to intensely bitter, with Aperol on one end of the spectrum and Campari on the other. Here are a few more drinks based around amari:
- Go for 10 Best Campari Cocktails to Try
- Opt for 12 Amaro Cocktails to Try
- Grab a Campari Spritz or Amaro Spritz
- Make the Siesta Cocktail, a fun spin with Campari, tequila, grapefruit and lime juice
Top 10 Aperol Cocktails
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
The classic Aperol spritz is worth the hype! It’s light and bubbly, with hints of citrus and herbs: one of the most refreshing mixed drinks of all time.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) Aperol, chilled
- 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) soda water
- Ice (try clear ice!)
- For the garnish: orange wedge, a straw if you like
Instructions
- Add the Aperol to a glass filled with ice and stir. Top with the sparkling wine and soda water.
- Squeeze in the orange wedge and stir gently, then serve. Serve with a straw to minimize dilution!
- Category: Drink
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Aperol cocktails