Entertaining

The 7 Best Aperol Cocktails

A riff on the Last Word, this modern classic is stronger than most other easy-drinking Aperol cocktails. Equal parts Aperol, bourbon and Amaro Nonino get shaken with an equal measure of fresh lemon juice, for a vibrantly red, bitter and sour tipple.

Take your basic brunch Bellini to the next level by tempering its sweetness with a splash of Aperol and using boozy peach liqueur instead of fresh peach purée. The stone fruit flavor of the peach blends beautifully with the citrus notes of the Aperol and crisp taste of Prosecco.

This cocktail mashes up two day drinking favorites: the Aperol Spritz and the Paloma. Aperol, smoky mezcal and floral St-Germain spike a can of everyone’s favorite seltzer, La Croix Pamplemousse. Fresh grapefruit and lime juices give the cocktail added zing.

Aperol is not just for summer sippers; this fall-friendly aperitivo incorporates the liqueur with delicate Lillet Blanc and apple cider (use fresh cider if possible). Garnish with tart cranberries, and you’ll have the ultimate welcome drink for an autumnal cocktail party.

If Aperol’s bitter, bracing cousin Campari is too much for your palate to handle, swap in Aperol for a milder, sweeter take on the Negroni. A few dashes of coffee bitters keeps the complexity of the original gin and vermouth cocktail while adding rich depth.

Play up the subtle florality of Aperol by mixing it with actual flowers in this elegant, fluted cocktail. Combine homemade rose petal syrup with Aperol, and top it with sparkling wine for effervescence.

Eschew notions that Aperol can only be used for light, fancy beverages by going all in on this decadent boozy dessert. Aperol, dry rosé wine and seltzer top a scoop (or several scoops) of strawberry ice cream, creating a gorgeous, rosy float that’s definitely worth indulging in.