Aperol Negroni Recipe

Aperol Negroni recipe — The Negroni's approachable younger sibling who went to art school and does yoga. Made with gin. Originally from Italy.

I'm the friend who makes everything look effortlessly cool while secretly reading self-help books. I've got all the sophistication of my intense older brother but with a sunnier disposition and way better Instagram presence. I'm bitter enough to be interesting but sweet enough that your parents actually like me.

Aperol was originally created in 1919 by the Barbieri brothers in Padua, Italy, but didn't become popular until a massive advertising campaign in the 1950s featured the slogan 'Aperol: the orange aperitif.' The campaign was so successful that orange became synonymous with Italian aperitivo culture.

This is essentially a gentler riff on the classic Negroni, substituting Aperol for Campari. While the traditional Negroni dates to 1919, the Aperol version gained popularity in the 2000s as bartenders sought more approachable bitter cocktails. It perfectly captures the Italian aperitivo spirit with less aggressive bitterness.

Ingredients

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Aperol
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 piece orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Add gin, Aperol, and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir for 20-30 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
4. Express orange peel oils over the drink and drop in.

Category: cocktail | Difficulty: easy | Base spirit: gin | ABV: 16.0-18.0%

Origin: Italy