7 Aperol Cocktails Beyond the Spritz
Recipes · 2026-08-10 · 9 min read · by Jake
Aperol is having a moment that's lasted about a decade. The Aperol Spritz is everywhere — and for good reason, it's delicious. But Aperol works in way more drinks than just Prosecco and soda water. It's a bitter-sweet orange liqueur that works in dozens of cocktails.
If you've got a bottle of Aperol sitting on your shelf that only comes out for Spritzes, here are other ways to use it.
Aperol Spritz (The Classic)
3 oz Prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, 1 oz soda water. Build over ice in a large wine glass. Orange slice. The 3-2-1 ratio is easy to remember and perfectly balanced.
Use dry (brut) Prosecco. Sweet Prosecco makes it cloying. And use plenty of ice — a warm Spritz is a sad Spritz.
Aperol Sour
Aperol works beautifully in a sour format. 1.5 oz Aperol, 1 oz gin, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, half an ounce simple syrup, half an egg white. Dry shake, then shake with ice, strain into a coupe.
The gin adds backbone that Aperol alone doesn't have. The result is this gorgeous orange-pink cocktail with a silky foam that tastes like a bitter orange creamsicle.
Paper Plane
Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice (3/4 oz each). Shake and strain into a coupe. One of the best modern classics — perfectly balanced between bitter, sweet, and citrus.
If you can't find Amaro Nonino, Montenegro works as a substitute. Different flavor profile but still makes a great drink.
Naked and Famous
Equal parts mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse, and fresh lime juice. The smoky mezcal with bitter Aperol and herbal Chartreuse creates something complex and fascinating.
This is the Paper Plane's edgier cousin. If you like smoky, bitter, herbal cocktails, this might become your new favorite.
Aperol Negroni
Replace the Campari in a Negroni with Aperol for a lighter, sweeter, more approachable version. Equal parts gin, Aperol, and sweet vermouth. Stirred, served over ice, orange peel.
This is the gateway Negroni for people who find Campari too bitter. Aperol has about half the bitterness of Campari, so the drink is softer and more orange-forward.
Aperol Paloma
1.5 oz tequila, 1 oz Aperol, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice, half an ounce lime juice, top with soda water. The Aperol's orange bitterness amplifies the grapefruit and adds complexity to a standard Paloma.
This is my summer go-to. It's light, bitter, citrusy, and looks beautiful — that orange-pink color is stunning in a glass.
Put this into practice
- Build an Aperol Spritz accurately — Start with the classic sparkling aperitivo serve, including the chilled glass and gentle build that keep it light instead of watery.
- Try a bitter Negroni next — Move into a more spirit-forward bitter drink when you want to compare Aperol’s softer orange profile with Campari’s firmer edge.