The history of the popular alcoholic drink “Aperol” began in Italy about a hundred years ago, when the family company of the Barbieri brothers released the first batch of orange liqueur. New bitter was introduced in 1919 at the fair in Padua. Initially, the drink, despite its unique taste and elegant advertising, was not very popular. Glory to him came after the Second World War, when residents of different countries got acquainted with the drink. It was then that the Aperol Spritz cocktail recipe appeared, which became the favorite refreshing drink of the Italian youth and won the love of people from different parts of the world. Today it is produced in the form of an independent drink along with the “Aperol” itself, which plays a significant role in the composition of the cocktail. Despite the popularity of orange liqueur, not everyone knows how to drink “Aperol” correctly. It is customary to use it not quite as similar drinks.
Description of the drink, especially drinking
The recipe of “Aperol” producer, which today is the company Campari Group, keeps a secret. It is only known that not only sweet and bitter oranges give him a bittersweet taste. In addition to these ingredients, alcohol, sugar and water, the drink contains quinine tree, rhubarb and gentian. It is possible to say about other ingredients only what they are and that they are natural - they do not have more precise information for sommeliers.
“Aperol” has a bright orange, almost red color. For this shade and unique taste, the drink is difficult to confuse with any other, including other orange liqueurs.
- Thanks to its composition, “Aperol” invigorates and refreshes, increases overall tone and charges with optimism. Able to improve appetite and digestion, making it classified as bitters. For this reason, it is served as an aperitif or used to make refreshing cocktails.
- There are no exact rules as to what temperature a drink should have when serving and in which glasses it should be served. But usually cocktails with it are served in wine or cocktail glasses chilled. If you are persistent in your desire to serve “Aperol” as an aperitif, as the inventors originally intended, then it is advisable to use a cooled liqueur glass for this purpose.
- A distinctive feature of the “Aperol” is its low strength - it is only 11 degrees. That is why many make the erroneous conclusion that it is necessary to drink it in its pure form. In fact, the Italians drink this liquor exclusively diluted or make cocktails with it. Usually diluted with orange or grapefruit juice (1: 2 ratio), sparkling water (in half, dropping an orange slice to the bottom), white dry wine (1: 3 ratio).
As part of the cocktails, “Aperol” can also be combined with stronger alcohol.
What to bite
Considering that “Aperol” is not taken to be used in its pure form, the options for snacks should be selected for cocktails, in which this liqueur plays a major role. Most of them are well suited:
- fish;
- canape with salted salmon;
- poultry meat;
- sandwiches with Tuscan ham, lettuce and mustard;
- tuna and egg sandwiches;
- truffle and tomato sandwiches;
- toast with spinach on rye bread.
If the drink is served in pure form as an aperitif, an orange slice is considered the best snack to it.
Cocktail “Aperol Syringe”
Composition:
- “Aperol” - 40 ml;
- Prosecco sparkling wine (or similar) - 60 ml;
- soda - 20 ml;
- orange - 1 slice;
- ice cubes - to taste.
Method of preparation:
- Fill a cocktail or cognac glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in the wine.
- Next add orange liqueur.
- Last enter soda water. Its amount can be increased or decreased, based on your taste.
The glass is decorated with an orange slice. Serve a cocktail with a straw. In Russian sources you can find the distorted name of this drink (“Syringe”). In fact, its original name is Spritz, which means “splashing rain”.
Cocktail “Aperol Betty”
Composition:
- “Aperol” - 60 ml;
- orange juice - 60 ml;
- grapefruit juice - 40 ml;
- ice - to taste.
Method of preparation:
- Beverages pour into a shaker glass, shake.
- In a highball or cocktail glass, fill with ice no less than half.
- Pour a cocktail into a glass.
This refreshing drink quenches thirst well on a hot day. Serve it with a straw. Juices for cooking use only freshly squeezed, which makes it not only tasty, but also useful.
Cocktail “Paper Airplane”
Composition:
- “Aperol” - 30 ml;
- whiskey - 30 ml;
- soda - 30 ml;
- freshly squeezed lemon juice - 20 ml;
- crushed ice and ice cubes - to taste;
- lemon - 1 slice.
Method of preparation:
- Drinks combine in a shaker tank, add crushed ice.
- Shake for 30 seconds.
- Strain.
- Fill a wide glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the prepared mix into it.
The glass is decorated with a slice of lemon, it is served with a cocktail stick.
Cocktail “Aperol Flip”
Composition:
- “Aperol” - 30 ml;
- champagne - 60 ml;
- sugar syrup - 20 ml;
- lemon juice - 20 ml;
- crushed ice - to taste;
- egg white - 1 pc .;
- a spiral from an orange dried peel - 1 piece.
Method of preparation:
- Place crushed ice in the shaker glass. Pour in drinks, add sugar and egg white.
- Shaking the shaker intensively, whisk its contents.
- Pour champagne into a tall glass or a roomy cocktail glass.
- Gently add the prepared mixture.
Decorate your glass with an orange peel twist. You can drip on top of orange juice or ether. This is a fairly young cocktail, but it is quickly gaining popularity.
Orange liqueur “Aperol” is distinguished by bright color and unique taste, at the same time bitter, sweetish and refreshing. It is well stimulated, improves appetite. It is often used for the preparation of toning cocktails.
