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Home » Drinks

Aperol Sour with Maple Syrup & Rosemary

February 17, 2021 by Jane Saunders 2 Comments

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Aperol gin sour cocktail with text overlay
Aperol gin cocktail with text overlay
Aperol sour image with text overlay
Aperol gin cocktail with text overlay

This Aperol Sour captures many flavours. It is tart, slightly bitter and yet slightly sweet with mellow undertones provided by the maple syrup along with an enticing herbaceous aroma from the rosemary. Undeniably pretty, this Aperol gin cocktail makes a great aperitif.

Aperol sour cocktail with egg foam and rosemary garnish
Contents hide
1 What is Aperol?
2 Why this Cocktail is Special
3 Ingredients
4 Step by Step Instructions
5 Expert Tips
6 Frequently Asked Questions
7 Alternatives to Aperol
8 More Aperol Cocktails to Try
9 Recipe
10 Aperol Sour with Maple Syrup and Rosemary

An Aperol sour is one of my favourite gin sour cocktails to make. All sours generally win in the looks department and this Aperol version is no exception. That bold colour doesn’t beg for attention, it demands it.

Like most gin sour cocktails, this Aperol sour is easy to assemble, and each sip delivers a bold mix of sweet & sour fruitiness alongside a little punch of alcohol.

And if you like this cocktail, be sure to take a look at my Italicus cocktail – it’s another sour with some pretty enticing flavours. Or for something more classic, try my rum sour or Disaronno sour.

What is Aperol?

  • Aperol is an Italian bitters apéritif made from gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, to name a few ingredients
  • Tastewise, it is similar to Campari but slightly less bitter. Expect rich, orange sweetness and bitter herbal undertones
  • It also has a distinctive and unmistakable orange hue
  • Aperol has a relatively light alcohol content (abv 11%)
  • Its name is derived from apero – Italian slang for aperitivo – meaning a pre-dinner drink
  • So it should come as no surprise that Aperol is the key ingredient in the well-known aperitivo the Spritz

Why this Cocktail is Special

  • The use of maple and rosemary elevates the already solid base flavour of this fresh, citrussy, yet slighty bitter libation
  • Egg white adds fantastic texture to this Aperol sour and provides a delightful foam top on which the rosemary can be suspended
  • And since this recipe uses equal measures gin and Aperol, it’s not too potent on the spirits front. This makes it a particularly easy cocktail to sip

Ingredients

Ingredients for an Aperol Gin cocktail

This Aperol gin cocktail requires few ingredients and there is nothing outlandish in the ingredients list to find.

At a push sugar cane syrup could be used in place of maple syrup, though the mellow notes of maple really adds to the depth of flavour in this simple libation.

As far as the gin goes, any London Dry is fine, but if you happen to have one to hand that is particularly herbaceous go for this.

Step by Step Instructions

It takes just 5 minutes to make this Aperol sour:

Step 1: Put the rosemary sprigs in the palm of one hand and clap the other hand down sharply on top. This helps release the aroma and oils in the herb without the need for pounding it

Step 2: Put 2 rosemary springs and all the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker (without ice)

Step 3: Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds

Step 4: Put a large handful of ice into the shaker and shake again for another 30-40 seconds until the cocktail feels ice-cold and the egg white has created an abundant foam

step by step image collage for making a cocktail with egg white

Step 5: Strain into cocktail glasses and lay a sprig of the reserved rosemary over the top of each glass. Serve straight away

Expert Tips

Although knocking up this Aperol gin cocktail is quick and straightforward, keep the following tips in mind:

  • use plenty of ice to create a drink that is wonderfully ice-cold
  • if possible, put your serving glasses into the freezer 15 minutes before preparing this drink. You’ll be amazed how this simple step can help maintain the coldness achieved in the shaker
  • resist putting the rosemary into the cocktail shaker and using a cocktail muddler to bruise it. This will release too much rosemary aroma. This cocktail requires just a hint of this herb to play alongside the bitter orange Aperol
  • choose the right sized glass for your drink. If the glass is too large then the cocktail will quickly warm up
Straight on photo of Aperol sour gin cocktail with rosemary garnish

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave the egg out to make it vegan?

You certainly can do. The texture won’t be quite so velvety and the foam top will be missing but the flavours will still shine.

Alternatively, try using aquafaba as a vegan replacement for the egg (apparently the taste and smell of the chickpea brine disappears during the shaking process – phew).

Can I make it in advance?

Since this recipe includes an egg white foam, I do not suggest making up a batch in advance. Freshly shaken is the only way to go for this aperol gin cocktail.

Do I need to do the dry shake?

Trust me, the texture and foam crated by shaking dry (without ice) first and then with ice is remarkable. For a mere 30 seconds extra work, it is well worth the mini arm workout the double shaking requires.

Can I leave out the rosemary?

By all means. Perhaps garnish with a twist of orange zest instead.

Alternatives to Aperol

If you are out of Aperol (or plain don’t like it), then try making this sour with Campari instead. The colour will be deeper and the flavour will be a touch more bitter, but overall, you’ll wind up with a cocktail worth savouring.

More Aperol Cocktails to Try

Aperol Negroni (a Gin and Aperol Cocktail)
Check out this recipe
An Aperol Negroni cocktail garnished with orange zest and green olives.
Winter Aperol Spritz recipe with Sloe Gin
Check out this recipe
overhead view of a winter aperol spritz with sloe gin and rosemary
Aperol Tequila Twist
Check out this recipe
Venetian Aperol Spritz
Check out this recipe
Aperol Spritz

Have you made this Aperol sour? I hope you enjoyed it – let me know how you got along by leaving a comment or rating below. You can also show me your creation on Instagram by tagging me @jane_littlesugarsnaps.

Recipe

Aperol sour - featured image

Aperol Sour with Maple Syrup and Rosemary

Jane Saunders
This Aperol Sour captures many flavours. It is tart, slightly bitter and yet slightly sweet with mellow undertones provided by the maple syrup along with an enticing herbaceous aroma from the rosemary. Undeniably pretty, this Aperol gin cocktail makes a great aperitif.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Alcoholic Drink
Cuisine: Worldwide
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 People
Calories: 189kcal
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Ingredients

  • 60 ml Gin
  • 60 ml Aperol
  • 40 ml Lemon juice
  • 20 ml Maple syrup
  • 1 Egg white large, free range
  • 4 Rosemary springs

Instructions

  • Put the rosemary sprigs in the palm of one hand and clap the other hand over it to release oils and aroma
  • Put 2 sprigs into a cocktail shaker, add other ingredients
  • Secure the lid and shake vigorously, without ice, for 30 seconds
  • Add ice and shake for another 30-40 second
  • Strain into 2 glasses and top with the remaining rosemary sprigs

Notes

Cocktail Making Tips

  • use plenty of ice to create a drink that is wonderfully ice-cold
  • if possible, put your serving glasses into the freezer 15 minutes before preparing this drink. You’ll be amazed how this simple step can help maintain the coldness achieved in the shaker
  • resist putting the rosemary into the cocktail shaker and using a cocktail muddler to bruise it. This will release too much rosemary aroma. This cocktail requires just a hint of this herb to play alongside the bitter orange Aperol
  • choose the right sized glass for your drink. If the glass is too large then the cocktail will quickly warm up

Make it Vegan

You have two options to make this Aperol sour vegan:
  • Simply leave the egg out. The texture won’t be quite so velvety, and the foam top will be missing, but the flavours will still shine
  • Alternatively, try using aquafaba as a vegan replacement for the egg (apparently the taste and smell of the chickpea brine disappears during the shaking process – phew). Try adding 2 tablespoon and shake first of all without any ingredients for 30 seconds, then add the rest of the ingredients and the ice and shake for 1 minute more
 

Nutrition Per Serving (Approximate)

Calories:189kcal | Carbohydrates:16g | Protein:2g | Fat:1g | Saturated Fat:1g | Sodium:26mg | Potassium:68mg | Fiber:1g | Sugar:7g | Vitamin A:1IU | Vitamin C:8mg | Calcium:13mg | Iron:1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @littlesugarsnap or tag #littlesugarsnaps!
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  1. Sherry Schilb

    February 19, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    5 stars
    Wonderful drink with ingredients you most likely have on hand. Thank you Jane for finding ways to utilize my bottle of Aperol in the winter!

    Reply
    • Jane Saunders

      February 19, 2021 at 7:28 pm

      Thanks so much Sherry for taking the time to let me know how you got along – it’s Friday evening, I’m about to pour one for myself 😉

      Reply

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