We're shaking things up with the Aperol Sour Cocktail Recipe, a delightful twist on a classic. Let's dive into the zesty, bittersweet flavors that make this drink a must-try for any cocktail enthusiast! This delightful drink boasts bright citrus notes, a silky texture, and a bright red-orange color that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious.
Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or a cocktail novice, this Aperol gin sour will surely become a favorite in your repertoire! If you're not familiar with Aperol, the Italian aperitif that's grown majorly in popularity in the last couple of years, let this drink be the perfect introduction.
Know any Aperol lovers? This drink is the more elegant version of an Aperol spritz, and it's sure to impress! It would make a great addition to happy hour or any festive gatherings during the holiday season with its stunning hue.
Looking for more ideas for what to serve for holiday gatherings? Try our apple whiskey sour, this pomegranate gin cocktail, this blood orange gin cocktail, or this slow cooker mulled wine.
For another twist on the gin sour, try our lavender gin cocktail!
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Easy to make. This cocktail is elegant and refined, but it's also surprisingly easy to make, making it accessible for beginner mixologists.
- Made with simple ingredients. Everything you need for this recipe can be found at any local grocery store!
- Delicious drink. This cocktail bursts with bright citrus flavors, making it an excellent aperitif or a refreshing drink for any occasion. The frothy egg white foam adds a creamy texture and rich flavor, elevating the drinking experience.
- Fun and festive. This gin Aperol sour is truly a beautiful cocktail with its stunning hue and frothy top! This visual appeal makes it perfect for special occasions like holiday gatherings, bridal showers, or even your next dinner party!
- Low ABV cocktail. This delicious drink is easy to enjoy, and it has a low alcohol content making it a perfect choice for those who prefer milder libations.
🍊Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Dry gin. Anything you'd like. We used Empress Elderflower Rose Gin for its incredible botanical flavors, and lovely pink hue to complement the color of this drink!
- Fresh lemon juice & orange juice. Fresh is best here, we highly recommend using fresh lemons and oranges for the best bright citrus flavor.
- Bitters. Technically optional but adds a lovely depth of flavor to the drink. We used orange bitters to add to the overall orange flavor.
- Raw egg whites. Use the freshest and highest quality eggs you can find. Technically, you can omit this if you'd like, but it really does add such a lovely creaminess to the drink. Keep your egg cold and don't allow it to come to room temperature for food safety.
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Vegan version. Swap out the egg white with an alternative like aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) for a vegan alternative to an egg.
- Citrus variations. Experiment with different citrus juices like grapefruit juice or lime juice to add unique twists to this drink.
- Add extra orange flavor. For an extra layer of orange flavor, consider adding a dash of orange liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau.
🔪Prep work
- Chill the Aperol in the fridge.
- Squeeze the orange and lemon juice and drain out any seeds or pulp.
- Make simple syrup if needed. See the FAQs section for full instructions on how to make simple syrup.
- Chill your cocktail glasses in the freezer, or by placing ice cubes in the glass while you prepare the drink. Right before serving, you can pour the ice out of the glass.
- Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Don't toss the egg yolk! Add it to your scrambled eggs, or use it in a cookie recipe, like these chocolate chip pecan cookies!
📋Instructions
To a cocktail shaker with no ice, add fresh orange juice (Image 1), lemon juice (Image 2), and simple syrup. (Image 3)
✨Pro Tip: Add the least expensive ingredients first (citrus juices and simple syrup), and the most expensive ingredient last (the liquor), and taste as you go! That way, if you mess something up you won’t waste expensive ingredients, and you can adjust along the way.
Add a dash of orange bitters, (Image 4) followed by the Aperol (Image 5), and gin.(Image 6)
Add the egg white, (Image 7) then secure the lid and shake vigorously to create foam. (Image 8) (This is the “dry shake” method without ice.)
Fill the shaker halfway with ice. (Image 9) Secure the lid and shake vigorously again.
Double strain into a chilled glass. (Image 10) Garnish how you'd like. We like to garnish it with a wedge of orange. (Image 11)
✨Pro Tip: To achieve a pristine, foamy top, use a fine mesh cocktail strainer when pouring the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. This prevents any potential chunks of egg from getting into the drink.
Serve and enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Make sure to dry shake first to froth the egg white. This means to shake without ice. Make sure to shake vigorously to get a nice foam.
- Chill all ingredients before mixing. This drink isn’t served over ice, so you want everything to be as cold as possible.
- Chill your glass in the freezer. Again, a cold drink will help keep it colder for longer.
- Use a rounded-shaped glass with a long stem, like a coupe glass or a Nick and Nora glass. This will also help keep the drink colder for longer (because you hold onto the stem) and allows the aromas of the drink to be more pronounced when enjoying.
- Keep your egg cold, and don’t allow it to come to room temperature for food safety. Use the best quality and freshest eggs you can find.
- Use fresh citrus juices. The fresh lemon juice and orange juice will make a big impact on the flavor, so definitely opt for fresh!
- Use good-quality, clear ice cubes both for shaking and serving. Ice that has been sitting around in the freezer can absorb odors, which may affect the cocktail’s flavor.
- Taste and adjust sweetness and tartness. Depending on the sweetness of your cider or the tartness of your lemons, you might want to adjust the quantities of maple syrup or lemon juice. Taste and adjust according to your preference.
- If making this drink for the first time, add the least expensive ingredient first, and the most expensive ingredient last, and taste as you go! That way, if you mess something up you won’t waste expensive ingredients, and you can adjust along the way.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
The drink is best enjoyed fresh, but you can prepare some of the cocktail ingredients, like your citrus juices and simple syrup, in advance and store them separately. Mix them with Aperol, gin, and egg whites when you’re ready to shake up a cocktail.
To make your own simple syrup, bring 1 cup of water to boil. Once boiling, add 1 cup of white sugar and remove it from the heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then allow it to cool off completely before adding it to the drink. Enjoy!
If you’re nervous about consuming raw eggs, we’d recommend taking a look at this great guide for more information on consuming them safely. Our tips are to use the highest quality eggs you can find, wash them off, and keep them really cold before consuming. You don’t want them to come to room temperature, as this will breed more bacteria.
More Recipes To Consider
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📖 Recipe
Aperol Sour
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
- fine mesh cocktail strainer
Ingredients
- ½ ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
- ½ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- dash of orange bitters
- 1.5 ounces Aperol
- 1 ounce dry gin
- 1 large egg white
- ice for shaker
Instructions
- Combine ½ ounce of simple syrup, ½ ounce orange juice, ½ ounce lemon juice, a dash of orange bitters, 1.5 ounces of Aperol, 1 ounce of gin,and the egg white in a cocktail shaker with no ice.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds to create a foam. (This is the "dry shake" without ice.)
- Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for another 20 seconds.
- Double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange wedge, a lemon twist, or orange twist. Enjoy!
Notes
-
- Make sure to dry shake first to froth the egg white. This means to shake without ice. Make sure to shake vigorously to get a nice foam.
- Chill all ingredients before mixing. This drink isn’t served over ice, so you want everything to be as cold as possible.
- Chill your glass in the freezer. Again, a cold drink will help keep it colder for longer.
- Use a rounded-shaped glass with a long stem, like a coupe glass or a Nick and Nora glass. This will also help keep the drink colder for longer (because you hold onto the stem) and allows the aromas of the drink to be more pronounced when enjoying.
- Keep your egg cold, and don’t allow it to come to room temperature for food safety. Use the best quality and freshest eggs you can find.
- Use fresh citrus juices. The fresh lemon juice and orange juice will make a big impact on the flavor, so definitely opt for fresh!
- Use good-quality, clear ice cubes both for shaking and serving. Ice that has been sitting around in the freezer can absorb odors, which may affect the cocktail’s flavor.
- Taste and adjust sweetness and tartness. Depending on the sweetness of your cider or the tartness of your lemons, you might want to adjust the quantities of maple syrup or lemon juice. Taste and adjust according to your preference.
- If making this drink for the first time, add the least expensive ingredient first, and the most expensive ingredient last, and taste as you go! That way, if you mess something up you won’t waste expensive ingredients, and you can adjust along the way.
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