This delicious Aperol Negroni is a unique spin on the traditional negroni recipe. Making a negroni as an aperol gin cocktail using Aperol instead of Campari adds more sweet orange flavor and is slightly less herbaceous than its popular counterpart.
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If you have never had an Aperol negroni, you are in for a delicious treat!
An Aerol negroni is a spin on a classic negroni which is made with Campari. A traditional negroni has three basic ingredients: gin, vermouth and Campari.
If you love classic cocktails, you also can’t go wrong with an old fashioned or a Manhattan but you should definitely give this Aperol gin cocktail a try!
I guarantee once you try this Aperol negroni recipes, you will fall in love with this delicious liqueur. Some other popular Aperol recipes are an aperol boulvardier an mescal aperol negroni.
If you love a delicious cocktail, be sure to check out this Cherry Manhattan, homemade Bourbon Cherries and Demerara Syrup (the perfect addition to your home bar and so many cocktail recipes!).
You might be wondering what to serve with your Aperol negroni drink. I love to sip on this delicious cocktail with my Honey Smoked Salmon appetizer. It is also delicious with this Instant Pot Tri Tip.
Why This Recipe Works
- The beautiful vibrant orange color of this Aperol negroni is a sure showstopper at your next party! This negroni without Campari does not disappoint.
- This cocktail is super easy to make and uses cocktail ingredients that are very versatile.
- This negroni with Aperol is super yummy! Not too sweet with very nuanced flavors.
Aperol negroni ingredients
- Gin: A dry gin works best. Tanqueray gin, Beefeater gin, Hendricks gin or Kirkland Signature (Costco brand) gin is a great option.
- Vermouth: I recommend a sweet or semi-sweet vermouth. Martini & Rossi brand vermouth is a very common option available in most grocery stores. You can use dry vermouth if that is what you have on hand but sweet is preferred.
- Aperol: Aperol Aperitivo is an Italian liqueur available in most grocery or liquor stores. If you wish to make a traditional negroni, you can use Campari instead of Aperol.
- Orange Bitters (Optional): Angostura Orange Cocktail Bitters are a nice addition to this cocktail. They are completely optional but they enhance the delicate orange flavor in this Aperol negroni cocktail.
- Orange Twist (Garnish):
- Ice Cubes or Ice Block: You can use regular ice cubes. However, I love serving this Aperol negroni using a round ice ball or square ice block. It’s just extra fun! You can buy a combo of round and square ice molds on Amazon.
- Cocktail Shaker: You will want to use a cocktail shaker to strain this cocktail once stirred. This cocktail shaker is a great option if you don’t yet have one in your home bar.
- Rocks Glass: An aperol Negroni is typically served in a rocks glass. I also like to serve them in a brandy snifter.
How to make aperol negroni recipe
- Combine gin, vermouth, Aperol (and optional orange bitters) in a glass with ice. In a mixing glass, stir until chilled.
- Strain through cocktail shaker into rocks glass with ice cubes or an ice block square or round.
- Based on personal preference, you can simply pour the alcohol directly over the ice or ice block in the rocks glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist, run orange twist around rim of glass.
- Enjoy your delicious Aperol negroni!
Vodka Negroni
1 part vodka, 1 part Campari, 1 part sweet vermouth.
Traditional Negroni
1 part gin, 1 part Campari, 1 part sweet vermouth.
Campari vs aperol negroni
Aperol Apertivo is an Italian bitters liqueur/apertif made with various herbs and fruit. It has a vibrant orange color and has alcohol content around 11%.
Campari is also an Italian liqueur/apertif made from an infusion and herbs and fruit. It is a dark rich red/orange color.
While Aperol and Campari have significant similarities, they do have their differences.
Aperol is around 11% alcohol and Campari ranges from 20-28% alcohol. Aperol is slightly sweeter and less bitter.
I find that the notes of fruit (orange and citrus) are more pronounced in Aperol vs Campari. Campari is a deeper orange/red and Aperol is more vibrant light orange.
Overall, the Aperol negroni is slightly more sweet, citrusy (orange) and less bitter than the traditional Campari negroni.
Orange peel garnish
To make an orange peel garnish for your cocktail, simply use a vegetable peeler and peel a clean slice of orange rind off of your orange.
Be sure to thoroughly clean your orange prior to peeling.
If you don’t have a vegetable peeler, you can use a knife, but be very careful not to cut yourself.
FAQ and expert tips
It is generally recommended that a negroni be stirred. Shaking vigorously in a cocktail shaker changes the dilution and mouth feel of the cocktail by adding additional liquid and ice.
Absolutely! Aperol is a great substitute for Campari in a negroni. Aperol is slightly less bitter, more sweet and citrusy and lower in alcohol content. It still make a delicious negroni.
No. A traditional negroni is made with Campari, not Aperol. While both liqueurs are a vibrant orange, they do have differences in their flavor profiles. However, both Campari and Aperol make a delicious negroni.
The closest substitute for Campari in a negroni is Aperol. It has a beautiful orange hue with similar herbaceous and fruit flavor. It is lower in alcohol content, slightly more sweet and less bitter.
This depends on personal preference. Both have a beautiful orange hue. Campari is darker orange/red. Campari has a higher alcohol content and is more bitter. Aperol has a lower alcohol content, is less bitter and slightly more sweet and citrus flavored.
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Aperol Negroni
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker, rocks glass
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1.5 oz sweet or semi-sweet vermouth
- 1.5 pz Aperol
- 2 dash orange bitters (optional)
- Garnish: Orange twist
- Ice cubes or round or square ice block
Instructions
- Combine gin, vermouth, Aperol (and optional orange bitters) in a glass with ice. Stir until chilled.
- Strain through cocktail shaker into rocks glass with ice cubes or an ice block square or round.
- Based on personal preference, you can simply pour the alcohol directly over the ice or ice block in the rocks glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist, run orange twist around rim of glass.
- Enjoy your delicious Aperol negroni!
Sam
Aperol Negroni is now my new favorite cocktail! I think it is more fruity that a regular Negroni which I like. Thanks for the easy recipe!