The 11 Finest Aperol Cocktails

The Aperol Spritz craze that has swept the nation and far of the world has launched many to what Italians have identified for years—citrusy bitter liqueur is molto buona! 

Brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri launched Aperol in 1919 on the Padua Worldwide Truthful—a preferred commerce occasion that featured new foods and drinks merchandise—held within the metropolis of Padua, in Northern Italy’s Veneto area. On the time, aperitivo hour was common within the area, and the vary of refreshing drinks to accompany this pre-dinner ritual was rising. Aperol, with its approachable citrus-sweet taste profile and hanging sunshine-in-a-glass hue, made a splash on the truthful, and historical past was made.

Within the Fifties the Aperol Spritz was created, rapidly changing into a modern aperitivo all through Europe. Quickly, Aperol turned the best-selling spirit in Italy. The refreshing mixture of prosecco, Aperol, and membership soda didn’t fully take off stateside till many years later, however the cocktail has solely grown in recognition within the years since. 

Aperol is commonly the mild gateway spirit for the bittersweet liqueur class. It tends to be lighter in profile and never as intense as a few of its extra aggressive pink bitter counterparts, reminiscent of Campari. With a comparatively low alcohol content material of 11% ABV, zesty citrus notes, and fragrant flavors of gentian, rhubarb and cinchona, it’s also extraordinarily mixable and makes for a wonderful cocktail ingredient past the Spritz. 

Based mostly on the countless demand for Aperol Spritzes, it’s clear that bubbles assist to carry this vivid orange-red aperitivo to life, however Aperol’s bittersweet botanicals additionally lend themselves properly to quite a lot of base spirits from gin and mezcal to bourbon and rum, and past.

Listed here are 11 of the perfect cocktails to make with a bottle of Aperol.