Aperol Sour

By Timo Torner / Last updated on March 20, 2023

This Aperol Sour is a great summer cocktail based on Aperol and Gin and sweetened with a tasty Prosecco syrup. A low-ABV and herbal drink that makes for a perfect apéritif.
Aperol Sour cocktail

Aperol is known for being a great apéritif liqueur. It's even more popular as an ingredient in various apéritif cocktails like the classic Aperol Spritz. Our Aperol Sour recipe brings the refreshing taste of this sparkling Spritz cocktail into a unique sour.

Besides Aperol, a classic Spritz relies on chilled Prosecco. Use a homemade Prosecco syrup to incorporate those crisp, aromatic, acidic flavors of Italian sparkling wine into this cocktail.

Aperol Sour

Ingredients of an Aperol Sour

Having a base of Aperol makes this Sour a fantastic low-ABV drink. Aperol is one of the lightest Amari and only contains 11% vol. And out of the six components required, Gin is the only alcoholic ingredient in this drink apart from Aperol.

  • Aperol: A bittersweet and orange-hued Amaro liqueur with a distinct, slightly herbal taste.
  • Gin: Gin is only a secondary ingredient (0.75oz) as it's used primarily to increase the ABV of the final drink a bit. You can either opt for a classic London Dry Gin like Bombay Sapphire or Beefeater or use a flavored Gin that pairs well with Aperol. Also, Malfy Gin, Edinburgh Seaside, or Malfy Gin con Arancia are great options.
  • Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a vital part of this cocktail. If this is too tart for your taste buds, try aging the lemon juice for a few hours.
  • Prosecco syrup: Homemade Prosecco or Champagne syrup is the best way to sweeten this cocktail. Additionally, Aperol and the crisp, aromatic taste of Prosecco just go so well together. 
  • Egg white: Using egg white or aquafaba is optional but I highly recommend using one of the two. You don't want to miss out on a beautiful foam in an Aperol Sour. It improves the drink visually and creates a richer mouthfeel.
  • Aromatic bitters: Optionally, you can garnish the drink with a few drops of aromatic cocktail bitters. Either go with classic Angostura bitters or orange bitters. The latter emphasizes the bitter orange flavors of Aperol.
Aperol Sour with garnish

How to make an Aperol Sour

Following these easy steps, you can mix up an Aperol Sour in no time. But before starting with the cocktail, you should make the Prosecco syrup. Here's our recipe to make it at home.

It should come out of the fridge, so you best make it a day prior. And ideally, also your glass sits 30 minutes in the freezer before serving the drink.

For a perfect egg white foam, you need to perform a dry shake - or alternatively a reverse dry shake. That means you shake 15 seconds without ice first. Then add ice, and shake again - or vice versa.

By performing a (reverse) dry shake one ensures that the foam is firm and frothy. This way, the cocktail looks amazing, the mouthfeel is better, and the dried orange can sit on top without drowning immediately.

Aperol Sour cocktail

Aperol Sour

A colorful Sour cocktail based on Aperol and Gin. The drink is floral, bitter, sweet, and has a bright citrus flavor.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: amaro, aperol, Gin, lemon juice, Prosecco
Servings: 1
Calories: 182kcal
Cost: $2.30

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Aperol
  • 0.75 oz Gin
  • 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 0.25 oz Prosecco syrup
  • 0.5 oz Egg white or Aquafaba
  • 3 drops Orange cocktail bitters (optional)
  • Dehydrated orange wheel

Instructions

  • Pour Aperol, Gin, Lemon juice, Prosecco syrup, and egg white into a cocktail shaker with ice.
    1.5 oz Aperol, 0.75 oz Gin, 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice, 0.25 oz Prosecco syrup, 0.5 oz Egg white or Aquafaba
  • Shake for 15 seconds to chill the drink. Then strain into the shaker and shake again without ice.
  • Garnish the cocktail with a few drops of bitters and a dehydrated orange wheel.
    3 drops Orange cocktail bitters, Dehydrated orange wheel

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.96g | Protein: 1.95g | Fat: 0.06g | Sodium: 28.4mg | Potassium: 82.96mg | Sugar: 12.24g | Vitamin C: 9.36mg | Calcium: 19.52mg | Iron: 0.09mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Aperol Sour FAQs

What is Aperol?

Aperol is a bitter-sweet herbal liqueur from Italy with a distinct taste, an orange color, and contains 11% ABV. Like Campari, Fernet Branca, and Cynar, the iconic liqueur is part of the Amaro family.

What does Aperol taste like?

Aperol has a distinct bitter-sweet taste of bitter oranges, herbs, and traces of rhubarb. Compared to other Amari, the bitter note is less pronounced, making it more approachable.

What is an Aperol Sour cocktail?

An Aperol Sour cocktail is a low-ABV Sour-style drink made with Aperol, Gin, Prosecco syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. It's a tasty and refreshing summer cocktail that can be served as an apéritif.

Which glass to serve a Sour cocktail?

Typically a Sour cocktail is served in a sour glass. However, you can also fill it in a Coupe, Coupette, or even a Nick and Nora glass.

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