Aperol liqueur: composition, drinking features, cocktail recipes

Greetings, dear reader! Today we will talk about one interesting aperitif (this is a drink that is served before a meal to whet the appetite). It is called Aperol and is made in Italy. This aperitif can be consumed on its own or used as the main ingredient for cocktails.

Let’s figure out what kind of drink it is, how to drink it and how to combine other alcohol with it.

Aperol – what is this drink

So what is Aperol? Its name in Italian is written as aperol, which in translation is derived from the French word “aperitif”. By itself, Aperol is a sweet and weak liquor.

There is a very famous cocktail called Aperol syringe (syringe). Many, speaking of Aperol, mean it, although this is not true. Do not confuse the aperitif itself and the alcoholic cocktail that is prepared on its basis.

Historical background

For the first time, an aperitif drink under the Aperol brand was served in 1919 in Italy. Its manufacturer was the family company Barbieri. At the beginning of its history, the liqueur did not receive a large number of fans, but it was the Aperol Spritz cocktail that glorified it. This cocktail began to be made in Venice, and it quickly spread throughout the world, like the original spirit, which is the basis in its composition.

Now Aperol is one of the most famous brands in Italy. In 2004, its annual sales reached 20 million liters.

Features of liquor production

Aperol producers claim that until now the drink is made according to the classic recipe of 1919 without any changes. The main ingredient is oranges, from which Aperol gets its sweetish taste and orange-red color.

Manufacturers, of course, do not disclose exact data on the composition of the drink, but it is known that the main technology is the infusion of oranges and other components on alcohol.

Aperol has one interesting feature. The fact is that the parties that are released for sale in Germany and France differ from others in terms of strength – here it is 4% more.

The fact is that this liquor is bottled in disposable bottles. And according to the laws of Germany and France, all alcoholic beverages with a strength of less than 15% must be bottled in reusable containers. Therefore, the liquor for these countries just reaches 15 degrees in strength and is sold in a traditional glass bottle.

Taste and composition

Aperol contains oranges (including bitter ones), cinchona fruits and various herbs. In total, the recipe includes 30 components, all of which are absolutely natural. Their combination gives the aperitif a unique taste: light, sweet and with hints of bitterness (due to which it is a bit like a bitter). The bright orange color makes this drink very recognizable.

Fortress of Aperol

The standard fortress of Aperol is 11%, that is, quite a bit. This is more than a number of other aperitifs (wine, vermouth), but still less than, for example, gin, which is also served before meals.

As we have already said, in individual batches of Aperol, the fortress reaches 15%.

Varieties of Aperol liqueur

Today, Aperol is not only a drink, but also a whole brand. Under it, a whole series of aperitifs is produced:

1. Aperol Soda. Fortress 3%, the weakest and sweetest type of liquor. A distinctive feature is that it is carbonated.
2. Aperol Spritz. A ready-made drink made according to an adapted recipe of a popular cocktail. Has a fortress of 9%.
3. Aperol. A classic liqueur with a rich herbal and orange flavor, 11% ABV.

You can also find analogues of Aperol on the market (I will talk about them below), but their taste, of course, will be slightly different from the traditional liquor according to the original recipe.

How to distinguish a real liquor from a fake

Aperol, like other popular alcohol brands, is often counterfeited. On the Russian market, especially in non-chain and small stores, you can find fake liquor. In order to distinguish the original from a fake, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

1. The drink is bottled in original transparent bottles with a brand name.
2. The bottle must have a blue stopper, which shows the brand logo and a circular inscription.
3. On the “shirt” that goes to the neck, there should be two inscriptions – the brand “Aperol” and the production “DAL 1919”.

The price of Aperol

This aperitif, despite its fame, is not very expensive. In Russia (in chain supermarkets and alcohol stores) it can be purchased at a price of 1000-1500 rubles, the bottle will be 0,7 liters. In Italy, the cost of the same bottle is 15-20 euros.

How and with what to drink

By itself, this liquor in its pure form is rarely liked by anyone. If its taste seems sharp to you, then you can drink liquor:

• with citrus juice (2 parts juice to 1 part liquor);
• with soda and orange slices;
• with dry wine (3 parts wine to 1 part liquor).

The best cocktails with Aperol

Since Aperol is freely available, including in Russia, cocktails with it can be made at home. Next, I suggest you check out some easy recipes that you can surprise your guests with or treat yourself to over the weekend.

Please note that Aperol itself is an aperitif, but cocktails are not. Many of them are quite sweet and strong, so it is recommended to drink them already on a full stomach.

Aperol Spritz

The same famous cocktail, which, in fact, glorified the liquor to the whole world.

In order to prepare a cocktail, you will need:

• Aperol – 80 ml;
• sparkling wine Prosecco – 120 ml;
• orange – 1 slice;
• sparkling water – 40 ml.

Steps:

1. Place a few ice cubes in a large glass with a tall stem.
2. Pour Aperol, carefully pour sparkling wine to it. Mix.
3. Add sparkling water on top.

An orange slice is used as a decoration. The cocktail has a rich taste, playfully bubbles and, thanks to the bright color and decoration, looks great in the photo.

Cheeky Negroni

In order to prepare a cocktail, you will need:

• Aperol – 50 ml;
• gin – 50 ml;
• dry vermouth – 50 ml.

The cocktail is prepared using the “build” method. This means that you need to immediately put ice into the glass, pour all the ingredients in turn on it and mix thoroughly with a bar spoon. Garnish this strong cocktail with lemon or orange zest.

Paper airplane

In order to prepare a cocktail, you will need:

• Aperol – 30 ml;
• whiskey – 30 ml;
• carbonated water – 30 ml;
• freshly squeezed lemon juice – 20 ml.

Steps:

1. Place a few ice cubes in a shaker.
2. Pour liqueur, whiskey and lemon juice over ice, shake everything well.
3. Pour the cocktail into a glass through a strainer (to remove the pulp).
4. Add sparkling water.

Descanso

In order to prepare a cocktail, you will need:

• Aperol – 20 ml;
• whiskey – 60 ml;
• sugar syrup – 10 ml;
• mint – 5 leaves;
• lemon – 4 slices.

Steps:

1. Crush the lemon and mint with a muddler.
2. Pour them into a shaker on ice, add liquor, whiskey and sugar syrup there.
3. Shake well.
4. Pour into a glass through a strainer.

It is recommended to decorate the cocktail with citruses dried to the state of chips or fresh slices of lemon or orange.

Aperol Betty

In order to prepare a cocktail, you will need:

• Aperol – 60 ml;
• fresh orange juice – 60 ml;
• freshly squeezed grapefruit juice – 40 ml.

Steps:

1. Place a few ice cubes in a shaker.
2. Pour Aperol on ice, add freshly squeezed juice to it (preferably without pulp).
3. Shake well and pour into glasses.

You can decorate this cocktail with traditional citrus fruits or their twisted zest (twists).

Aperol recipe at home

Homemade aperitif will consist of ingredients similar to the original:

• oranges (3-4 pieces);
• moonshine or vodka (700 ml);
• sugar (300 grams);
• Water (300 ml);
• fragrant herbs and spices.

Steps:

1. Prepare sugar syrup (cook sugar with water over low heat).
2. Squeeze orange juice and cut the zest.
3. Mix the zest, juice and syrup together, top with alcohol and water.
4. The drink should be infused for several days, after which it needs to be drained.
5. Ready liquor should be infused with herbs and spices for another 2-4 weeks.

Please note that the composition contains sugar. Therefore, if you prepare such a liqueur without spices, then it can turn out to be very sweet, unlike the classic Aperol. Therefore, the amount of sugar can be adjusted to your taste, but you should not completely exclude it.

Aperol liqueur analogues

A drink similar to Aperol is the famous Campari liqueur. It is made according to the original recipe and was invented even earlier, however, it also has a citrus taste with bitter notes.

Also, as a substitute for Aperol, you can buy Russian-made dessert orange liqueur Sorbet Aperitivo Orange.

Interesting Facts

Some interesting facts about this citrus liqueur:

1. Aperol Syringe is considered the most photogenic cocktail due to its bright color and strict serving rules.
2. Despite the fact that Aperol and Campari are different liqueurs, they are produced by the same company Campari Group.
3. The brothers who created Aperol spent seven years refining its original recipe.

Well, on this I say goodbye to you. Subscribe to new publications, share posts on social networks and boldly experiment when making cocktails with Aperol! The results may pleasantly surprise you. See you soon!