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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    The Perfect Gin Aperol Sour Cocktail

    Published: Sep 9, 2021 · Modified: Apr 10, 2022 by Aleka Shunk · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    This Aperol Sour is a popular summer cocktail your guests will love! Citrusy, slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness, it's the perfect apéritif to serve with appetizers before dinner!

    I also love serving these Margarita Pitchers when expecting a larger group!

    Aperol gin sour on table with lemon peel.
    Use a potato peeler to easily peel a sliver of lemon rind for a fancy garnish!

    I love serving this cocktail during the warmer summer months! It's refreshing, bright and citrusy. Plus, the orange-red color is vibrant like just this Paper Plane Cockail.

    If you want to do it "properly", you will want to serve this cocktail before dinner with appetizers as an "aperitif".

    On my honeymoon I was handed an apéritif menu while waiting for dinner. I had no idea what it was but I loved the idea of a separate pre-dinner drink menu. You can read more about what it is below!

    ⁉️Fun fact⁉️Did you know, in Italy, they don't even start serving dinner until after 9:00? That's usually when I'm getting ready for bed! (If I'm not expecting guests.) 🙂

    Looking for a fun unique mocktail to serve? Try my lavender lemonade!

    Contents hide
    1 Ingredients
    2 About Aperol
    2.1 What Does Aperol Taste Like?
    3 Shaking Up Your Cocktail
    3.1 Dry Shaking
    4 The Egg White Foam
    5 4 Types of Gin
    6 Expert Tips
    7 Useful Bar Tools
    8 Frequently Asked Questions
    8.1 Other cocktails you will love:
    9 Gin Aperol Sour Cocktail
    9.1 Equipment
    9.2 Ingredients
    9.3 Instructions
    9.4 Recipe Notes

    Ingredients

    • Aperol- This cannot be substituted and can easily be found in any liquor store.
    • Gin- You can choose an gin you prefer but see my gin recommendations below!
    • Simple Syrup- Simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar dissolved in a saucepan. You can replace this with agave nectar if you wish.
    • Egg White- A raw egg white gives the drink some body and creaminess that is delicious. Plus the subtle foam looks beautiful on top. If you are vegan or do not want to use an egg white, this bottled cocktail foam is a great option.
    Gin, Aperol, simple syrup, lemon and an egg on table.
    You can substitute the simple syrup with agave nectar if you prefer.

    🍹Love fruity cocktails? Check out this awesome drink list!

    About Aperol

    Aperol is an Italian amaro or bitter liqueur similar to Campari. It's a uniquely bittersweet and pairs incredibly well with many alcohols such as vodka and gin. It has an 11% alcohol content so it's not overly strong.

    It is most popular in an Aperol spritz which is made using Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of soda. It is light refreshing and bubbly.

    Aperol is known in Europe as an apéritif. Apéritifs are typically a bitter alcoholic drink served before a meal to stimulate ones appetite. Try serving this with a few Italian appetizers like my Italian Clam Stuffed Mushrooms or my Burrata w/ Roasted Peppers and Garlic.

    What Does Aperol Taste Like?

    Aperol tastes zesty like an orange with herbal notes while being slightly sweet and slightly bitter at the same time.

    If you love gin, you need to try this beautiful Lavender Martini Cocktail!

    Shaking Up Your Cocktail

    This cocktail is easy to shake up. If you aren't using an egg white, simply add all ingredients to a shaker along with ice and shake for 30 seconds. This is called a WET SHAKE.

    If you ARE using the egg white in your Aperol sour because you want the foam on top, you will need to DRY shake your cocktail first. Read about the difference here.

    Dry Shaking

    Dry shaking a cocktail means shaking it WITHOUT ice cubes at room temperature. This allows the ingredients to emulsify (blend) better. Then after, you want to add in your ice and shake again for another 30 seconds or so to chill and dilute your cocktail.

    Pouring an Aperol sour with gin into a coupe glass.
    Using a cocktail shaker will help slightly dilute the drink while chilling it at the same time.

    🍸Looking for Fancy Cocktails? Check out this list of Classy Cocktails you will love!

    The Egg White Foam

    Egg whites are commonly found in cocktails because they make drinks creamy and silky while adding some body. Shaking an egg white in a cocktail shaker results in a thick frothy foam that sits on top of cocktails like Aperol sours.

    But keep in mind that using raw egg whites can put you at risk for salmonella poisoning however the risk is extremely low. If this makes you hesitant at all, you have a few other options:

    1. Purchase PASTUERIZED eggs from the store.
    2. Use aquafaba which comes from chickpeas.
    3. Purchase bottled cocktail foam from Amazon.

    You can also leave out the egg white if this is easiest.

    4 Types of Gin

    1. London Dry*- This is the most popular type of gin with a juniper taste.
    2. Plymouth- This is named after the distillery that produces it and is more dry and citrusy than London Dry.
    3. Old Tom- This type of gin is richer in flavor than London Dry making it better for mixed, bitter drinks.
    4. Genever- The flavor is more robust and malty and pairs well with rich cocktails.

    You can read more about these types of gin here.

    The Best London Dry Gins

    There are many, MANY London dry gins on the market. Every one will taste a bit different so depending on your taste, choose what you typically like in your standard gin and tonics.

    • Bombay Sapphire: Best overall for price and taste.
    • Hayman's- The best bang for your buck.
    • Highclere Castle- Best to splurge on.
    • Tanqueray- Best for martinis.
    • Beefeater- Best for G&T's.
    • Sipsmith- Best for beginners.

    All of these would go well with an Aperol sour so use whatever you like or if you don't have a strong preference, use what you can find, or have on hand.

    Aperol sour in coupe glass with egg white foam and lemon rind.

    Expert Tips

    1. Chill your coupe glasses in the freezer for 10-20 minutes before serving for an extra cold sour!
    2. Mix up your Aperol sour for a crowd by adding all ingredients to a blender. Add ice after blending then strain it before serving.
    3. Make your own simple syrup at home with sweetener of choice.
    4. Muddle lemons in a shaker before adding your wet ingredients for added citrus flavor.
    5. Froth your egg whites in advance and top each drink separately if you don't want to bother with shaking and potentially pulling a muscle at your party! 🙂
    6. Add a dash of bitters to your mixer.
    7. Garnish with orange and or lemon peel.

    Useful Bar Tools

    If you love making cocktails at home then I suggest you invest in a few bar tools to make it easier!

    • Cocktail Shaker Set- This comes with the basics and is a great price.
    • Coupe Glass- These glasses are ideal for drinks like Aperol sours.
    • Peeler- For peeling lemon rinds.
    • LARGER Shaker- This baby holds 34 ounces so if you're hosting a cocktail party, it's PERFECT for making more than 2 drinks.

    Next time, try throwing a blind wine tasting party!

    👋 Let's be friends! Join my mailing list to receive entertaining tips and NEW recipes!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I have to use a shaker?

    Using a cocktail shaker will help to chill your drink while slightly diluting it. This is a small thing that makes a big difference in cocktails so I encourage you to do so! You can use two plastic cups if you don't have a shaker. If you are using an egg white then shaking it will be the only way to get it frothy.

    I don't have a shaker, what else can I do to get the foamy top?

    You can use an electric whisk (like the one used for cappuccinos) or even immersion blender to whisk up the egg white. Then pour the foam on top of your sour last.

    I'm vegan and don't want to use an egg white. Is there an alternative?

    Yes! Simply use aquafaba for your foam! Read about it here. It is the liquid from a can of chickpeas and it froths up beautifully without much flavor.

    Other cocktails you will love:

    Bonefish Grill's Winter White Cosmo

    Vodka Sunrise Cocktail

    Avocado Margarita w/ Jalapeno & Cilantro

    Passion Fruit Vodka Martini Cocktail (With Puree)

    Virgin Blue Lagoon Mocktail Recipe

    📲 Say hi on social!! 👋 Follow me on facebook, instagram, pinterest, youtube or tiktok for more recipes and entertaining tips!

    Aperol gin sour cocktail on table with lemon peel on rim.

    Gin Aperol Sour Cocktail

    This Aperol Sour is a refreshingly bright summer cocktail your guests will love! Citrusy, slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness, it's the perfect apéritif to serve with appetizers before dinner!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 person
    Calories:
    Author: Aleka Shunk

    Equipment

    • Cocktail Shaker

    Ingredients

    • 1½ ounces Aperol
    • 1½ ounces gin
    • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon simple syrup
    • 1 egg white (about 2 tbsp) (*optional)

    Instructions

    • Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add Aperol, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.
    • Shake WELL for 30-45 seconds until fully chilled and frothy.
    • Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

    Recipe Notes

    The egg white produces a smooth, frothy cocktail and is recommended! Shaking your cocktail is a must to both chill and froth your cocktail.
    In a coupe glass is how this drink is traditionally served.
    Chill your glass in the freezer 15 minutes before serving.
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    Comments

    1. Noni

      February 24, 2022 at 1:18 pm

      Hi, the recipe does not appear to match the post - do you have a recipe for the gin aperol sour? It sounds delicious! Thanks 🙂

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        February 24, 2022 at 3:06 pm

        Thank you!! I apologize, I imported the wrong recipe! That one IS delicious though! LOL! The correct one is up!

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