With a silky texture and a perfect blend of bitter, sweet, and citrusy flavors, this Aperol Negroni is a softer variation of the classic Negroni. Also aptly called a Contessa cocktail, sipping this negroni with Aperol will make you feel like Italian royalty!
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About This Recipe
This fun and zesty gin aperol cocktail is brightly colored, deeply flavorful, and perfect for rinsing off the work day. If you’re looking for a new drink to class up your Happy Hour at Home, my Aperol Negroni is a great place to start!
Aside from having a lovely bittersweet flavor palate and a cheerful orange-red hue, this simple aperol recipe is also:
- Made With Only 3 Basic Ingredients (or 5, if you’re feeling fancy 😉) - All you need is in, aperol, vermouth, plus orange simple syrup and candied orange peels.
- Quick & Easy - Measure, pour, add ice, stir, and strain. The whole process takes 5 minutes or less!
- More Approachable Than A Traditional Negroni - Trading the traditional Campari for Aperol means this cocktail is a little less spirited (Aperol has 11% ABV vs. Campari’s 21-28%). Aperol is also sweeter and less bitter than Campari, making it a great choice for people who are new to drinking bitter cocktails.
What is Aperol?
Aperol’s name comes from an Italian slang word, apero, short for “aperitivo.” This brightly colored Italian apéritif is part of the larger class of liqueurs known as amaros.
Made by the same company that produces Campari, Aperol is similarly flavored with gentian root and cinchona, though it has less than half the ABV of its better-known cousin.
If you’re a fan of other varieties of amaro, you’ll appreciate the springy notes of rhubarb and citrus that permeate it. While it is lovely served with little more than rocks and a splash of soda, Aperol’s complexity really shines in this Negroni variation.
Some great bittersweet taste recipes that use Aperol - Paper Plane, Aperol spritz, Aperol sour cocktail, or make this Aperol Negroni with a touch of sparkling water for an Aperol Negroni Spritz for a great dinner cocktail.
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this exquisitely balanced cocktail. Here’s what to grab at your local liquor stores:
- Aperol - If you’re just building your bar cart and want to branch out beyond the basic vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and whisky, the Italian aperitif Aperol is a wonderful option with a unique flavor. It not only has a stunning bottle and vibrant orange color, but its more gentle flavor profile makes it a great gateway into the world of Italian amaro.
- Gin - Whether you opt for a London dry gin, Hendricks Gin or more of a botanical infusion, this cocktail is sure to shine. Just be sure to reach for the best gin quality you can find in your price point.
- Sweet Vermouth - When you’re working with the bitter flavors of Aperol, I find that the subtle sweetness of sweet vermouth is quite welcome. For a slightly drier finish, try a semi-sweet vermouth instead.
- Orange Simple Syrup - This is an optional addition, but is encouraged if you’re not sure how you feel about bitter flavors. I also love the added boost of citrus to highlight the tasty Aperol flavor.
- Candied Orange Peel - While this is another optional addition, I love adding an orange peel garnish to my cocktails — they just feel fancier and more finished that way! Feel free to use an orange slice instead.
What is the best vermouth for a Negroni?
I tend to prefer a sweet vermouth for my Negronis. Opt for a high-quality, well-recognized brand like Dolin, Carpano Antica, or Cocchi to do the Aperol justice.
Equipment
One thing I love about stirred cocktails is how simple they are to mix up. Here is every piece of equipment you’ll need (plus one that you might want):
- Cocktail Spoon & Mixing Glass - I tend to recommend using a taller mixing glass than the glass you’ll serve your libation in so that you can mix without fear of splashing. Feel free to use the base of your cocktail shaker as your mixing glass!
- Rocks Glass or Cocktail Glass - A pretty glass instantly elevates any drink.
- Cocktail Picks - While these are optional, I love having reusable metal picks for cocktail hour. They feel super sophisticated and help me cut back on unnecessary waste.
- Vegetable peeler or y-peeler - For getting stunning strips of orange peel as a garnish
How To Make An Aperol Negroni
Making this stirred Negroni with Aperol in your home bar takes just two simple steps:
Step 1: Stir. Add gin, Aperol, and vermouth into a mixing glass with ice, then stir till chilled (about 25-40 seconds).
Step 2: Serve. Strain the Negroni into a glass with ice and garnish with candied orange peel or an orange garnish. Enjoy!
Optional Variations
While I love the simplicity of this aperol and gin Italian cocktail, there are plenty of ways for you to customize it to your own liking. Here are a few variations worth considering:
- Frozen Negroni - Combine your spirits in a lidded, freezer-proof container and freeze for a minimum of 8 hours. When you’re ready to serve, add it to a blender with a scoop of ice and blend until frothy.
- Non-Alcoholic Negroni - Swap in non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip or Ritual gin, Ghia or Kin aperitifs, and Lyre’s vermouth for a totally convincing Negroni mocktail.
- Use An Aperol Substitute - Sometimes its best to use what you have on hand. A classic Negroni is made with Campari, which you can easily swap in here. Other options include Cynar or Luxardo aperitivo.
If you love Aperol gin cocktails, you should also check out my recipes for Aperol Negroni Sours & Paper Plane Cocktails!
Expert Tips
- Chill the mixing glass to make sure the ingredients cool down without melting the ice too much.
- Add ice to the mixing glass last to prevent too much dilution.
- Use fresh, large ice cubes when serving to prevent premature dilution
- Don’t over-stir. Start with 20-30 seconds and taste the drink. If you want it to taste a little softer, stir for another 10 seconds. In total, stirred drinks shouldn’t be stirred for more than about 50 seconds or they’ll become overly diluted.
Frequently Asked Questions
While Aperol has only about half as much alcohol content as Campari and is on the milder end of the bitter cocktail flavor spectrum, you can easily make the Italian aperitivo swap in most recipes.
The Contessa, which I just love to say. 😍
Any well-appointed liquor store should carry Aperol in the aperitif section - it's a classic cocktail staple! Just keep your eyes peeled for the bright orange color and get ready to make all kinds of aperol negroni recipes!
More Beverage Recipes
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Aperol Negroni
Equipment
- Cocktail Spoon & Mixing Glass
- Rocks Glass or Cocktail Glass
- Cocktail Picks
- Vegetable peeler or y-peeler
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Aperol
- 1.5 oz Gin
- 1.5 Sweet Vermouth
- Ice
- ¼ oz Orange Simple Syrup, optional
- Candied Orange Peel, or orange slice as optional garnish
Instructions
- Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir till chilled.1.5 oz Aperol, 1.5 oz Gin, 1.5 Sweet Vermouth, Ice, ¼ oz Orange Simple Syrup
- Strain into a glass with ice and garnish with candied orange peel or orange slice.Candied Orange Peel
Notes
- Frozen Negroni - Combine your spirits in a lidded, freezer-proof container and freeze for a minimum of 8 hours. When you’re ready to serve, add it to a blender with a scoop of ice and blend until frothy.
- Non-Alcoholic Negroni - Swap in non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip or Ritual gin, Ghia or Kin aperitifs, and Lyre’s vermouth for a totally convincing Negroni mocktail.
- Use An Aperol Substitute - Sometimes its best to use what you have on hand. A classic Negroni is made with Campari, which you can easily swap in here. Other options include Cynar or Luxardo aperitivo.
Roberto
Hi Dear Emily,
I was in New York 5/6 years back on Broadway 175 where now is El Conde Nuevo before was El Conde to make it short I asked for a Negroni and they had finished Campari, so I went to the bar and saw Aperol on the shelf, I asked the bar man to use Aperol in the place of Campari, I really enjoyed it. Though nothing like classic Negroni.
Emily
Thanks for sharing Roberto! I completely agree, the classic Negroni is incredible and this variation is a delight as well. Cheers!