Recipe Roundup

19 Aperol Cocktails That Aren’t All Spritzes

This list will get you through that bottle fast.

By Joe Sevier and The Editors of Epicurious

March 15, 2024

Two player piano cocktails with a squeezed lime on a table.

We love a good spritz, but there are lots of other Aperol cocktails that are absolutely worth making at home when you have a bottle on hand. The citrusy, bittersweet Italian liqueur, sometimes called Campari’s gentler sibling, can be used in a wide array of drink recipes, since it plays nicely with pretty much any spirit you can name: gin, bourbon, tequila… And while the spritz and its many delicious variations feel perfect for spring and summer afternoons, plenty of these Aperol drinks also work well in cooler seasons. Below, you’ll find a few of our best options to shake and pour this weekend and add to your rotation of favorite Aperol cocktails.

Did you know Aperol is best when stored in the fridge? Read more about the shelf-life of alcohol.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
1/19
Extra-Refreshing Aperol Spritz
Before we get into our list of Aperol cocktails that are not spritzes, we want to make sure you try this version of the classic Aperol spritz, which uses an adjusted ratio of Aperol to prosecco to soda water for a drink that’s a bit less sweet and a lot more refreshing. Be sure to chill the sparkling wine and club soda before you get started, and serve alongside some little salty snacks for an aperitivo that’ll make you think of Italy.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
2/19
Bittersweet Symphony
If you find the negroni a bit too intense for your taste, don’t automatically give up on its many variations. An extra splash of gin mellows this silky cocktail’s bittersweet punch; herbaceous Punt e Mes adds complex flavor, while the Aperol mellows things out considerably. It’s a riff on the classic cocktail that really works for us.
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Photo by Jordan Hughes
3/19
Modern Medicine
We strongly believe a touch of scotch can work wonders in a cocktail. This Aperol-tinged whiskey sour gets a scotch float, inspired by the Penicillin. It works.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
4/19
Paper Plane Cocktail
One great thing about equal-parts cocktail recipes like the negroni, the Last Word, the Corpse Reviver #2, and this delightful number is that they’re so easy to memorize. Once you try this concoction of Aperol, bourbon, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice, you’ll make it again and again.
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Photo by Lizzie Munro
5/19
Naked and Famous
Here’s another Aperol drink in equal parts, but with mezcal instead of bourbon, herbal yellow Chartreuse instead of Nonino, and lime instead of lemon, giving you a sipper that’s lightly smoky, tart, and citrusy in all the best ways.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele
6/19
Player Piano
There’s something magical about the blend of soft, citrusy Aperol and fragrant elderflower liqueur. In the right ratios—like in this cocktail—their combined flavor is reminiscent of the best fruit punch you’ve ever tasted.
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Photograph by Natalie Migliarini and James Stevenson
7/19
Enjoying a Margarita in Venezia
Let’s introduce your basic margarita to our friend Aperol. We think they’ll get along great.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman
8/19
Archangel
You could think of this drink as a cucumber-scented martini that’s made with Aperol instead of dry vermouth. Use a tea strainer to make sure you don’t wind up with little bits of cucumber in your glass.
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Photo by Emma Janzen
9/19
Division Bell
This shaken mezcal cocktail balances earthy smoke with rich, almondy maraschino liqueur, bittersweet, orangey Aperol, and tart lime juice. The fragrant oils of a grapefruit twist bring it all home.
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Photo by Daniel Krieger
10/19
Boathouse Punch
If you’re hosting a gathering to watch the game or eat a ton of turkey, this big-batch punch recipe is a great drink plan. Cut this recipe in half for smaller groups.
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Photo by Nicole Franzen
11/19
Rosé All Day
Cocktails with Aperol are great for whetting your appetite before dinner. Dress up a bottle of rosé with muddled strawberries, fresh lemon, and a splash of Aperol for the ideal aperitif.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano
12/19
Wild Heart Cocktail
Bitter lemon soda and Angostura bitters cut through the sweetness of this low(ish)-ABV cocktail.
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Christopher Testani
13/19
Saint-Florent Cocktail
There’s no better way to start a celebration than a tray of these fizzy drinks made with sparkling wine, gin, honey, lime juice, and Aperol. If you have time, chill the sparkling wine first so its bubbles stick around.
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Photo by Shannon Sturgis
14/19
Say Anything
If you’re on the hunt for a pro-level watermelon cocktail to impress your friends, this recipe has your number. Spicy jalapeño-infused tequila meets Aperol, watermelon, and cachaça in this drink from Ivy Mix of Leyenda in Brooklyn. Since the spicy tequila will keep for several months, you don’t need to do all the prep at once.
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Sivan Lewin
15/19
Easy Does It, Baby
Grapefruit juice and sparkling rosé bring balance and blushing color to this make-ahead Aperol punch, which sits with fresh thyme sprigs in the mix for a little herbal flavor. For optimal dilution, don’t add the ice until about half an hour before your cocktail party guests arrive.
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Photo by Daniel Krieger
16/19
Arancio Americano
The Americano cocktail combines bold Campari and sweet vermouth with sparkling water. (You can think of it as a low-ABV—or at least lower-ABV—version of that classic gin cocktail, the negroni, with club soda in place of the gin.) This brunch-friendly sipper goes a few steps further, using Aperol and a touch of fresh orange juice alongside the sweet vermouth, plus prosecco for fizz.
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Photo by Eric Medsker
17/19
Apercot Spritz
Sweeten this summer cocktail with a splash of chilled apricot nectar and garnish each wine glass with edible flowers and a sprig of thyme. This drink will give your go-to spritz recipe a run for its money. As with any spritz, there’s no need to break out pricey Champagne here—a drinkable prosecco will do the trick.
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Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
18/19
Aperol-Kombucha Spritz
Kombucha is great for adding tartness to easy cocktails—here, it’s combined with sparkling wine, Aperol, and lemon for a simple drink you’ll want to sip on the porch.
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Marcus Nilsson
19/19
Aperol Floats
Looking for Aperol cocktails to serve after dinner? Make these fizzy, thyme-scented ice cream floats with Aperol and tangy crushed raspberries for a digestif and dessert in one.
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Following stints at StarChefs and Saveur, Joe joined Epicurious in 2016 where he’s written about how to make the very best biscuits, the singularity of third-culture cooking, and the ultimate cream cheese frosting. Currently, he works across both BA and Epi as the senior SEO editor for cooking stories, which... Read more

Senior SEO Editor, Cooking

The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here.