The traditional Gin and Tonic is one of the most-ordered Highballs. It's a refreshing drink that offers plenty of opportunities by combining different Gins with matching tonic water.
By adding Aperol and two dashes of Angostura bitters to the mix, you can easily create a great Aperitivo cocktail. The Aperol Gin and Tonic has an orange-hued color and a balanced, bittersweet taste.
Learn how to make this great summer cocktail and find the best ingredients to make this tasty Aperol Gin Tonic cocktail.
Ingredients in an Aperol Gin and Tonic
An Aperol Gin & Tonic is best-served over large ice cubes or spheres and in a big balloon or wine glass. The foundation of the drink is made with Gin, tonic water, and Aperol.
To accentuate the flavors, you can add a dash of Angostura bitters and Orange bitters. And finally, you can garnish the cocktail with a slice or an orange; - just like an Aperol Spritz.
Here's a list of what you need and our recommendation for the best version of this drink:
- Gin
- Aperol
- Tonic water
- Angostura bitters
- Orange bitters
Aperol
Aperol is an Italian bitter herbal apéritif liqueur with a relatively low amount of alcohol (11% ABV) and is part of the Amaro family. Amaro, in turn, describes a collection of Italian herbal liqueurs known for their bittersweet taste.
Aperol is an excellent ingredient in Aperitif cocktails. Due to its distinct flavor profile, it's hard to find an adequate replacement. Luckily, Aperol is readily available in most parts of the world.
Gin
Every Gin & Tonic recipe relies on a great Gin paired with the right tonic. In combination with the bittersweet taste of Aperol, a Gin with a slight salinity works best.
There are quite a few Gins that provide the desired salty note. Yet, my favorites in this cocktail are Gin Mare and Edinburgh Seaside Gin.
Gin Mare is a spirit with a Mediterranean note that combines herbal and spicy aromas with hints of rosemary, juniper, and a little sweetness.
Edinburgh's Seaside Gin has a more pronounced saltiness combined with floral sweetness and grassy notes. Its maritime flavor profile is supposed to remind the drink of the rough and salty shores of Scotland's coast, and it does, indeed.
The ideal Tonic water
The variety of tonic water is getting bigger and bigger. Depending on the brand and type, the level of bitterness and quality of the different options vary. There's a massive selection of additionally flavored tonic water. You can get cucumber-flavored tonics as well as lemon, rose, Mediterranean, and even yuzu-flavored tonic waters.
However, for our salty Gin, I prefer a more classy Mediterranean tonic water. Furthermore, it pairs perfectly with the bittersweet taste of Aperol.
Cocktail bitters in the Aperol G&T
Aromatic bitters are a great way to round off a drink while enhancing its complexity. So, by adding a dash of Angostura bitters and another dash of orange bitters, you will get an even better-balanced cocktail.
The classic Angostura bitters increase the general complexity. And the addition of the orange bitters helps make the Aperol shine in the drink.
More cocktails with Aperol
- Aperol Negroni - A lighter and sweeter version of the traditional Negroni cocktail.
- Aperol Spritz - The most popular Aperol drink made with Aperol, Prosecco, and chilled soda water.
- Paper Plane - A tasty combination of Aperol, Amaro Nonino, Bourbon, and lemon juice garnished with a small plane made from paper.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Gin - (Edinburgh Seaside Gin or Gin Mare)
- 0.5 oz Aperol
- 4.5 oz Mediterranean tonic water
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Orange bitters
Instructions
- Add ice spheres in a balloon or wine glass and swirl to chill it.
- Get rid of melted water and then pour in the Gin.
- Add Aperol, give it a quick stir, and then fill up with tonic water.
- Add one dash of Angostura bitters and one dash of orange bitters.
- Garnish with a slice of orange.
Love the addition of Aperol ❤️ -so tasty