Easy Aperol sour cocktail

Colorful, stylish, and delicious, we first tried an Aperol sour when we were skiing in France, and out of all the Aperol gin cocktails, it was our favorite. Refreshing with citrus flavors, this is the perfect addition to any cocktail party!

A homemade bright orange Aperol sour cocktail with a frothy top, with a cocktail stick with a maraschino cherry on.

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Why you’ll love this stylish Aperol gin cocktail

  • It’s bursting with flavor, it looks great, but it also tastes sensational!
  • Deceptively simple, it looks more difficult to make than it is, you’ll make it in just 5 minutes.
  • An Aperol sour is a great aperitif, pre-dinner drink, or the perfect summer cocktail.
  • It’s 100% vegetarian.

It’s easy to see why our friends eyes light up when we serve them an Aperol sour, full of orange flavor, this is a fantastic refreshing cocktail that looks sensational.

What is Aperol?

Aperol is a popular bright orange Italian aperitif it originates from Padua but now is manufactured by the Campari group.

The full recipe is a closely guarded secret but it contains sweet and bitter oranges, rhubarb, and a whole host of herbs.

You can make many different Aperol cocktails, like an Aperol negroni or Aperol spritz.

You can pick up a bottle of Aperol at your local liquor store.

What does Aperol taste like?

This bright orange alcohol is refreshing, it’s made with both bitter and sweet oranges.

If you’ve tasted Campari, then it’s similar but not as bitter.

It’s got a subtle bitterness, like grapefruit juice but has sweetness to balance it out.

Does an Aperol sour use egg whites?

Yes, it does.

The egg whites in an Aperol sour give it its frothy top, but that’s for aesthetic reasons, if you prefer not to use an egg white, then just leave it out.

Ingredients to make aperol sour cocktails, aperol, Bombay sapphire gin, simple syrup, lemon and lime juice and eggs.

What brand of gin do I have to use?

As Aperol is made with citrus fruits, it’s great if you can use a citrus-forward gin such as Tarquins, Tanqueray, or Portobello Road.

At the end of the day though, just use a gin that you like and don’t break the bank either!

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

You can, but it won’t taste as good as freshly squeezed lemon juice.

An Aperol gin sour is all about fresh vibrant flavors and bottled lemon juice doesn’t pack that zingy taste that fresh does.

Avoid bottled if you can and go fresh all the way!

What cocktail glass should I use?

An Aperol sour is an elegant cocktail and it deserves an elegant glass.

We’ve used a coupe glass, but you could also use a martini glass.

If you’ve got in your mind that you’ve seen it served in a wine glass, then you’re probably thinking of a spritz, a wine glass is a little too large for this Aperol gin cocktail recipe.

What equipment will I need?

In an ideal world, you’ll need a cocktail shaker, a jigger, a Hawthorne strainer, and a cocktail glass.

You’ll need the cocktail shaker to first dry shake the egg white for the white frothy top, then you’ll add the ingredients along with ice cubes and shake to mix.

You’ll need a jigger, which is a bar measure, which measures the quantity of liquid that you are putting in your shaker.

The Hawthorne strainer is another piece of bar equipment that allows you to strain your Aperol sour into your cocktail glass without all of the ice tumbling into it.

Finally, you need a cocktail glass to put your cocktail in, it’s best if it’s a chilled cocktail glass as this keeps the drink cooler for longer.

Don’t have all of this?

Don’t worry, skip to the recipe notes and expert tips section, we’ve got good ideas of how to use everyday kitchen equipment to make your Aperol gin cocktail.

A delicious aperol cocktail with an egg white top

Can I make Aperol sours ahead?

If you didn’t want the frothy top on your Aperol soup, then yes, you could make them ahead.

Simply follow the recipe instructions, pour the Aperol sour into a jug and leave it chilling in the fridge.

It’s important to remove the ice cubes from your cocktail as they will melt and dilute your drink.

You can’t make an Aperol sour with the frothy top ahead of time, as the froth starts to disappear and your cocktail will look a little sad.

Recipe notes and expert tips

  • Out of lemon juice? Use freshly squeezed lime juice instead, it’ll change the flavor slightly but it’ll still work.
  • Make your own simple syrup – it’s so easy to make simple syrup.
  • Try dry – if you’re having trouble creating the froth then try a dry shake of the egg white.
  • Make do cocktail shaker – if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, then use a large jar with a lid, follow the recipe and you’ll still create a great Aperol sour, it’ll tide you over until you get a cocktail shaker.
  • Resourceful Hawthorne strainer – use a tea strainer instead!
  • Jigger substitute – just use a shot glass, or measuring jug.
  • Lower the alcohol content – just leave the gin out, you’ll have an even bigger orange taste.

Other cocktail recipes for you to try

If you like our Aperol sour cocktail recipe, then why not try these cocktail recipes; Espresso martini, Long Island iced tea, lemon drop martini, passion fruit martini, and purple rain.

How to make an Aperol sour cocktail with step-by-step instructions

Making our Aperol gin cocktail recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

Add an egg white to a cocktail shaker, secure the lid, and dry shake vigorously for approximately 30 seconds.

Next, add Aperol, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice cubes.

Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Strain into your chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a manchego cherry, lemon slice, lime slice, or grapefruit slice.

Serve and enjoy – cheers!

Two Aperol gin cocktails with maraschino cherry garnish.

We hope that you enjoy making and drinking our Aperol gin cocktail recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Please leave a comment below and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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Easy Aperol sour cocktail

Colorful, stylish, and delicious, and made in just 5 minutes. An Aperol sour is refreshing with citrus flavors, and is a delicious aperitif, pre-dinner drink, or the perfect summer cocktail!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Servings1
Calories239
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Jane Chapman

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add an egg white to a cocktail shaker, secure the lid, and dry shake vigorously for approximately 30 seconds. Next, add Aperol, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice cubes. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds
    1 Egg white, 1 oz Aperol, 1 oz Gin, 1 oz Lemon juice, 1 oz Sugar syrup, Ice cubes
  • Strain into your chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an optional manchego cherry, lemon slice, lime slice, or grapefruit slice. Serve and enjoy – cheers!

Notes

  • Out of lemon juice? Use freshly squeezed lime juice instead, it’ll change the flavor slightly but it’ll still work
  • Make your own simple syrup – it’s so easy to make simple syrup
  • Try dry – if you’re having trouble creating the froth then try a dry-shake of the egg white
  • Make do cocktail shaker – if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, then use a large jar with a lid, follow the recipe and you’ll still create a great Aperol sour, it’ll tide you over until you get a cocktail shaker
  • Resourceful Hawthorne strainer – use a tea strainer instead!
  • Jigger substitute – just use a shot glass, or measuring jug
  • Lower the alcohol content – just leave the gin out, you’ll have an even bigger orange taste

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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