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    Home » Drinks

    Zesty Aperol Sour Cocktail (With Gin)

    April 14, 2022 by cookingwithelo Leave a Comment This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    How about an Aperol sour cocktail on a hot summer day? It's a fruity, zesty and tangy drink made with fresh citrus juices. This vegan version is made without egg whites but tastes just as good as the original!

    Aperol sour cocktail with a lemon slice on a cocktail pick and a twisted orange zest.
    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Elo's tips
    • Step-by-step pictures
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More Aperol cocktail recipes
    • The recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Who doesn't love a good twist on the classic sour cocktails such as whiskey sour and gin sour?
    • Aperol sour is a very refreshing cocktail with bright citrus notes despite having a higher alcohol content.
    • No fancy equipment or cocktail shaker is needed.
    • It's the perfect cocktail to serve if you're hosting a small party or simply to indulge after a busy week at work.

    Ingredients

    Aperol is an Italian aperitif with a bright orange color. It's characterized by aromas of bitter oranges, gentian (an herb that produces fragrant orange-yellow flowers, used for its bitter compounds) and cinchona aromas (a tree, whose bark is used for its high quinine content). It's the main liquor in this cocktail.

    Gin is the second liquor in this cocktail. To fully enjoy the citrus flavors of the cocktail, you can choose a London dry gin (no added flavoring after distillation and no sweeteners) with its predominant juniper aromas. Personally, we love Hendrick's distilled gin, infused with juniper, rose and cucumber.

    Fresh orange juice and fresh lemon juice make up the sour part of this cocktail. We recommend freshly squeezed citrus juices for the best results.

    A touch of simple syrup provides the perfect balance between the bitter, sour and sweet components of this recipe.

    Ingredients with descriptive labels.

    Elo's tips

    1. No simple syrup? No problem! You can make simple syrup in the microwave in only a few minutes. Combine equal parts of water and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2-5 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved. Make sure to stir halfway through. Let it cool a little before using your simple syrup in a cocktail.
    2. Serve it in a chilled glass for an ice-cold cocktail.
    3. Make this cocktail in a large punch bowl for a party. Use an affordable gin such as Gordon's London dry gin and bottled orange and lemon juice to save time.
    • Granulated white sugar in a small ceramic bowl.
    • Simply syrup in a small ceramic bowl.

    Step-by-step pictures

    Sugar rim a glass. Pour a little lemon juice on a plate. Cover another plate with granulated sugar. Dip the glass in lemon juice first. Then, dip it in sugar without doing circular motions.

    • Glass dipped in lemon juice on a speckled plate.
    • Glass dipped in white on a speckled plate.

    Start by filling a glass with 3-4 large ice cubes. Pour 3 ounces Aperol, 1 ounce gin and 1 ounce simple syrup into the glass.

    • Ice cubes in a sugar rimmed glass.
    • Hand pouring gin in a sugar rimmed glass.
    • Hand pouring Aperol in a sugar rimmed glass.

    Juice the orange and the lemon. Add 5 ounces of orange juice and 5 ounces of lemon juice. Give it a good stir.

    You can add a splash of soda water to dilute it a bit more if desired.

    Garnish with a lemon or orange slice and a strip of orange zest.

    • Hand pouring lemon juice in a sugar rimmed glass.
    • Hand pouring orange juice in a sugar rimmed glass.
    • Cocktail skewer with a lemon slice place on the rim of a glass filled with Aperol sour.

    Frequently asked questions

    Where can you buy Aperol?

    Aperol can be found at most liquor stores, next to bottles of Campari. However, you can also order it online.

    What is the best Aperol substitute?

    The best Aperol substitute would be Campari for its bitter orange aromas. However, Campari is stronger, more bitter and less sweet than Aperol. Nonetheless, it would be a great Aperol substitute in this cocktail.

    More Aperol cocktail recipes

    • This Aperol tonic cocktail is a twist on the classic Aperol Spritz. Overall it's a very light cocktail that's perfect on a hot summer day.
    • Aperol negroni is a strong drink made of three types of liquor and served over ice. This recipe uses Aperol instead of Campari.

    Don’t forget to join the Cooking With Elo newsletter. You’ll get gluten-free and vegan dinner ideas sent right to your inbox.

    The recipe

    Aperol sour in a small heavy-bottomed glass, topped with a lemon slice and orange zest.

    Zesty Aperol Sour Cocktail (With Gin)

    5 from 2 votes
    This Aperol sour cocktail is a fruity, zesty and tangy drink. It's made of Aperol, gin and fresh citrus juices for a refreshing summer cocktail.
    Print Pin
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 1
    Author: Eloïse Jennes

    Ingredients 

    • 3 parts Aperol
    • 1 part Gin see notes
    • 1 part simple syrup optional
    • 5 parts fresh orange juice from 1 large orange
    • 5 parts fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon

    Instructions

    • Juice the orange and lemon. Save a slice of orange and a strip of lemon zest as garnish.
    • Fill a heavy-bottomed glass with ice cubes.
    • Add the Aperol, gin and simple syrup (if using) to the glass.
    • Pour in the orange and lemon juice. Give it a good stir.
    • Garnish with the orange slice and lemon zest.

    Notes

    1. How much is one part? For 1 cocktail, 1 part is 1 cl.
    2. Which gin to choose? To fully enjoy the citrus flavors of the cocktail, you can choose a London dry gin with predominant juniper aromas (no added flavoring after distillation and no sweeteners). Personally, we also love Hendrick's distilled gin, infused with juniper, rose and cucumber.
    3. What is the best Aperol substitute? The best substitute would be Campari for its bitter orange aromas. However, Campari is stronger, more bitter and less sweet than Aperol. 
    4. How to make simple syrup in the microwave?  Combine equal parts of water and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 3-5 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved. Stir halfway through. 
    5. For a party: you can make this cocktail in a large punch bowl. Use an affordable gin such as Gordon's London dry gin and bottled orange and lemon juice to save time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Sugar: 13g
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