Bursting with zesty flavours, the Aperol Tequila Twist is a cocktail that can be savoured throughout the year. It’s mellow and bitter enough for winter but delightfully refreshing on a warm summer’s day.

Are you an Aperol lover? Don’t miss my Aperol sour and Aperol Negroni recipes.

Bottles of orange cocktail with orange wedges and aperol alongside.

When I think of tequila my mind races back to a time when cheap tequila shots, complete with salt and lemon or lime were the thing to do midway through a Saturday night out. Truthfully, I was never really a shots kind of person, but I’ll hold my hands up and admit to consuming the occasional one in my mid-twenties. Usually in a ropey but brilliant club in my hometown, Nottingham.

Life moved on, those days passed and, for a long time, I ignored tequila. But after talking with friends last weekend, I realised I might not be alone in this behaviour. It became clear to me that once our cheap shot drinking days are behind us, people have a tendency to be wary of tequila. It has a reputation – something along the lines of: drink tequila and you’ll regret it tomorrow.

Hmm. In hindsight, it’s really not tricky to work out the correlation between the volume of alcohol consumed and the severity of any hangover. So, I’ve come to the conclusion that tequila’s bad reputation is a tad unfair.

A tequila and Aperol cocktail garnished with a twist of orange.

But, I’m not here to lecture. Oh no. Instead, my mission today is to tempt you back to the tequila cart. And I intend to do that with this gorgeous Aperol Tequila Twist. This is another recipe I’ve had prepared for a while (I got over my tequila phobia a while back) and now seems the perfect time to share it.

But might I suggest a little moderation in the volume quaffed? Excellent. And perhaps some food to help keep you on the straight and narrow? If you’re hosting a party sharing food such as baked camembert & doughballs or mini pizzas (pizzette) are ideal.

Now we understand the tequila drinking rules, let me tell you about the Aperol Tequila Twist. It is nothing like a tequila shot (phew). This cocktail blends tequila with Aperol, grapefruit juice, orange juice, orange bitters and maple syrup. No lemon. No lime. No salt. And as for a time limit on drinking it? Forget that too.

Shot glass containing Aperol with grapefruit juice and fresh orange alongside.

These ingredients create a drink that is long and tangy, yet mellow and bittersweet. There are so many levels of flavour harmoniously at work here. The Aperol Tequila Twist is also a sensationally colourful drink, making it wonderfully eye-catching.

As for the best time of year to savour this drink, I’m hard-pressed to decide. In the cooler months, I enjoy cosying up with the mellow undertones of sweet maple and the bitter bite of Aperol. But in the summer months, the zesty citrus flavours from the grapefruit and orange juice are incredibly refreshing.

This cocktail works well served in a glass, or – if you are hosting a party – bottled up and kept cool over ice (you can prepare this in advance). You never know, you might just help a few tequila chary friends over their fears – who could resist giving such a good-looking cocktail a go?

More tequila cocktails

Assuming you’re now over your tequila fear, if you had it in the first place, here are a few more lovely tequila cocktails to enjoy (slowly and in moderation):

Have you made this Aperol tequila cocktail? Please let me know if you enjoyed it by leaving a review.

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