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thew May 25, 2008 06:22 AM

Cocktails w/ Aperol

just bought a bottle, and i'm looking for suggestions

  1. Boston_Otter Feb 8, 2013 05:12 PM

    You can also use it to make a nice variation on the Boulevardier.

    1.5 oz. bourbon or rye
    1 oz. sweet vermouth
    1 oz. Aperol (usually Campari)

    Stir with ice, strain into cocktail glass, garnish with orange peel or cherry.

    1. EvergreenDan Apr 14, 2011 01:14 PM

      Kindred Cocktails has a couple of dozen uses for Aperol. A few of my favs:

      2 to 2 (by Stephen Cole, The Violet Hour)
      1 1/2 oz Aperol
      1 oz Absinthe
      1 oz Lemon juice
      1/4 oz Simple syrup
      1 ds Orange bitters
      1 twst Orange peel (flamed, as garnish)

      Intro to Aperol (by Audrey Saunders, Pegu Club)
      2 oz Aperol
      1 oz Gin
      3/4 oz Lemon juice
      1/4 oz Simple syrup
      1 ds Angostura bitters
      1 twst Orange peel (as garnish)

      Paper Plane (by Sam Ross, Little Branch)
      3/4 oz Bourbon
      3/4 oz Aperol Nonino
      3/4 oz Amaro
      3/4 oz Lemon juice

      Sorella Negroni (by Dan Chadwick, me)
      1 oz Gin
      1 oz Aperol
      1/2 oz Sweet vermouth, Punt e Mes
      1/2 oz Dry vermouth
      2 ds Orange bitters

      --
      www.kindredcocktails.com | Craft + Collect + Concoct + Categorize + Community

      5 Replies
      1. re: EvergreenDan
        Dapuma Apr 14, 2011 02:12 PM

        how does that intro to aperol play with hendricks

        can it stand up to the aperol, as it is pretty strong, i have had some gin / aperol drinks but not found one that is the right balance to me, but they were made without hendricks my gin of choice

        1. re: EvergreenDan
          EvergreenDan Apr 14, 2011 03:01 PM

          My understanding is that Audrey's intention was to create a very accessible amaro-based cocktail. Intro to Aperol is easy-drinking. I like the interplay between juniper and bitter orange Aperol. Hendricks isn't my go-to gin, but I think cucumber and rose would be find secondary flavors. Given the quantities, the Aperol definitely leads the flavor charge. The bitter / sweet / sour paradigm is a favorite of mine.

          Of the above, I think Paper Plane is simply not to be missed. The recipe is very flexible. Subbing Ramazzotti and Campari gives a variation some call a Paper Airplane. So if you don't have Nonino, try Ramazzotti or another pie-spice type amaro, such as Averna, Lucano, or CioCiaro.

          1. re: EvergreenDan
            t
            t_g Apr 19, 2011 03:14 AM

            Paper Plane (by Sam Ross, Little Branch)
            3/4 oz Bourbon
            3/4 oz Aperol Nonino
            3/4 oz Amaro
            3/4 oz Lemon juice

            ^ this should say 'amaro nonino'

            1. re: EvergreenDan
              EvergreenDan Apr 21, 2011 04:51 AM

              Yes, thanks. Transcription error.

            2. re: EvergreenDan
              o
              OldFashionedWhiskey Feb 7, 2013 06:04 PM

              Here's a variation on the Paper Plane I made tonight.

              3/4 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Single Barrel)
              3/4 oz Aperol
              3/4 oz Absinthe (Green Fairy)
              3/4 oz Lemon juice

              Tasty and powerful.

              I'm new to absinthe. Apparently Green Fairy is an inferior Czech brand, but it seemed to work well in this drink.

            3. yarm Apr 14, 2011 09:23 AM

              One of the best Aperol drinks I had last year was LeNell Smothers' Good Humor (named because it tastes like their orange creamsicle frozen treat!)

              2 oz Aperol
              1/2 oz Cream
              1 Egg Yolk
              Shake once without ice and once with. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.

              For more of the drink's history: http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/20...

              1. deet13 Apr 13, 2011 06:54 PM

                I like making Americanos with Aperol.

                Something I was messing with a few days ago...

                1 oz of sweet vermouth
                1 oz of Orange juice
                1 oz of Aperol (or Campari)
                1 oz of London style dry gin
                several dashes of bitters

                Shake and pour over the rocks in a highball glass.
                Top off with soda water and stir.

                It's like a citrus Negroni, with bubbles...

                I'll have to try the above with dry vermouth later.

                1. ifjuly Apr 13, 2011 02:26 PM

                  Someone on my FB feed described a perfect springtime drink, and I'm finding it weirdly addictive, maybe because it's so light and airy, almost wispy and insubstantial but then you realize actually there's a lot going on, it's just delicate. Anyway, it's simply Aperol, Dolin dry vermouth, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice shaken thoroughly with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. If you need it to have more oomph I'm sure you could play around with gin, vodka, or perhaps bitters, but the weird gentleness of it might grow on you. I've been doing 2 oz-3/4 oz-1 oz, but I should play around with ratios some more just for curiosity's sake I s'pose.

                  1 Reply
                  1. re: ifjuly
                    ifjuly Apr 15, 2011 10:14 AM

                    ETA: upon fussing a bit with ratios I'm finding I prefer it the following way:

                    2 oz Aperol
                    3/4 to 1 oz dry vermouth (Dolin), to taste
                    3/4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
                    1 dash Regan's Orange bitters (optional)

                    Shake with ice until thoroughly chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

                  2. a
                    Allison30030 Jun 19, 2008 02:47 PM

                    A few weeks ago at the Gran Bar Roma on Via Veneto I had a Topazio, which was described on the menu as Campari, Aperol and vodka, with a twist of orange. Shaken, served in a martini glass. It was delightful. I brought home a bottle of Aperol to try to recreate it.

                    1. Chris Walker Versus Jun 5, 2008 11:22 AM

                      Try mixing a bit of Aperol with white white. It can be very refreshing.

                      1. thew May 31, 2008 11:12 AM

                        thanks

                        i had orange vodka/aperol/grapefruit juice in a bar the other night very good indeed

                        last night i modified the aperol sour recipe by replacing the orange bitters and simple syrup with stirrings blood orange bitters - which are plenty sweet on their own

                        very yummy.

                        tonight i plan on the same thing with gin added into the mix.

                        1. skokefoe May 30, 2008 11:41 AM

                          I enjoy an Aperol Sour:

                          5 parts Aperol
                          2 parts Lemon Juice
                          1 part Simple Syrup
                          2 dashes Orange Bitters

                          There's a recipe on the bottle (I'm currently out of the stuff) that is good too (vodka + aperol / etc). I like it with soda water on ice too.

                          1. s
                            saffrongold May 27, 2008 03:31 PM

                            In Venice they drink Aperol like a spritzer; mixed with white wine and garnished with a green olive. It's great

                            1. b
                              barleywino May 25, 2008 08:16 AM

                              http://spiritsandcocktails.wordpress....

                              5 Replies
                              1. re: barleywino
                                jspear May 25, 2008 08:37 AM

                                thanks, i thought it was compari-like, something i do not enjoy for the intensity of it. this sounds like i might be more interested....

                                1. re: jspear
                                  thew May 25, 2008 10:33 AM

                                  it is absolutely campri-ish. but a little more complex in flavor.

                                  but if you do not like the medicine cabinet smell of campari you prob. won't like this either

                                  1. re: thew
                                    jspear May 25, 2008 06:05 PM

                                    I have only had it with soda and it seemed harsh. I'm open to something new....

                                    1. re: jspear
                                      f
                                      FlyerFan May 25, 2008 07:20 PM

                                      Campari and grapefruit juice is one of my favorite summer drinks. I add a little soda to lighten and give a little fizz....

                                      1. re: FlyerFan
                                        invinotheresverde May 27, 2008 07:51 AM

                                        I live on this (Campari/ grapefruit) during the summer, and frequently add a bit of Plymouth. It's great with Aperol as well. These two drinks lend themselfves well to bitters, so it's fun to experiment with all the difrferent flavors and complexities.

                              2. jspear May 25, 2008 08:02 AM

                                unfamiliar, what's it taste like?

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