The Aperol Sour is a bright, refreshing cocktail that transforms the famous Italian aperitif into something richer, smoother and more complex. While Aperol is best known for its role in the Aperol Spritz, its blend of sweet and bitter orange, herbs and spices also makes it perfectly suited to the classic sour format.
At first glance, the cocktail is striking. Its vibrant sunset-orange colour sits beneath a thick, velvety foam, creating an elegant presentation that looks every bit as impressive as it tastes. The flavour balances bright citrus freshness with Aperol's gentle bitterness, making it an ideal cocktail for warm evenings, garden gatherings and dinner parties.
As with all sour cocktails, fresh lemon juice plays a crucial role. The acidity provides freshness and balance, cutting through the sweetness and allowing the herbal and citrus notes to shine. Simple sugar syrup softens the sharper edges of the lemon and helps create harmony between the bitter and sweet elements.
The finished cocktail is refreshing, lightly bitter and beautifully balanced. Unlike many classic recipes, the Aperol Sour welcomes experimentation. Adjust the sweetness, acidity or bitterness to suit your own palate.
Served in a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass and finished with a twist of orange peel, it is a sophisticated aperitif that showcases Aperol in an entirely new light.
Use of Egg White in Drinks
- Sours including whiskey sours have traditionally been made with egg whites.
- When properly shaken, the whites give drinks a silky, almostcreamy texture,
- Adding an egg white helps mellow and integrate these flavours without muting them, while also contributing a silky texture and an opacity that is quite elegant in a vividly coloured drink.
Use of Lemon
- The acidity within the lemon provides the sour elements within the cocktail.
Use of Simple Sugar Syrup
- Sugar Syrup provides the sweetness to the cocktail.
Ease of Making: Easy, amend quantities as needed.
Glass Type: Coupe or Nika Nora
Taste: Refreshing and velvety smooth.
Ingredients for Aperol Sour
- 60ml Aperol
- 15ml Great Bustard Gin
- 22ml Fresh lemon juice
- 15ml Simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters or grapefruit bitters
- Egg white (or 15ml unsalted aquafaba)
Directions
- Fill a coupe glass with ice (to cool your drink).
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake for about 30 seconds.
- Add ice and continue to shake for one to two minutes.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
To Taste:
- The acidity in the Aperol Spritz comes from Prosecco, lemon provides the same effect in the Sour, balancing out the bitter-sweet aperitif.
- There’s no strict recipe for the Aperol Sour, so like the Bushwackerfeel free to ad lib.
