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:
- Gin
- Aperol
- Tonic water
- Angostura bitters
- Orange bitters
What is 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.
The recipe of Aperol is secret and closely guarded. However, a few ingredients like gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona are known to be part of the mix.
Aperol is an excellent ingredient in Aperitif cocktails. It's also the base of the most popular Spritz cocktail, the Aperol Spritz.
Gin in Aperol Gin Tonic
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 Gin with a Mediterranean note. The Gin has a herbal and spicy note 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.
Use a suitable Tonic water
The variety of tonic water is getting bigger and bigger. And depending on the brand and type, the level of bitterness and quality of the different options vary.
Also, 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.
For our salty Gin, I prefer 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.
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.
Nutrition
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.
Love the addition of Aperol ❤️ -so tasty