Aperol Negroni (a Gin and Aperol Cocktail)

An Aperol Negroni cocktail garnished with orange zest and green olives.

5 from 2 votes

Aperol Negroni (a Gin and Aperol Cocktail)

Aperol Negroni is the ideal deviation from the classic for lovers of the Negroni. Made using Italian bitters this Negroni with Aperol sports a vivid orange hue plus plenty of bittersweet flavour. Negroni with Aperol is less intensely bitter than the classic cocktail but just as easy to prepare and a delight to linger over.

Prep Time2

Total Time2

Course: Alcoholic Drink

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 168kcal

Author: Jane Coupland

Ingredients

30 ml Gin London Dry Gin or a craft gin
30 ml Aperol
15 ml Sweet Vermouth
1 Slice orange
2 Green Olives (drained from brine) optional

Instructions

Put a large handful of ice into a cocktail jug.
Pour in all the alcohol.
Stir for 30 seconds.
Strain the drink into a rocks glass filled with ice cubes.
Garnish with the orange and olives (if using).

Notes

Try doubling the sweet Vermouth used to be in keeping with the more traditional 1:1:1 Negroni ratio of ingredients.
Use plenty of ice and a large jug for stirring your drink before decanting into a rocks glass filled with ice. This is the best way to ensure your Negroni with Aperol cocktail is served deliciously cold.
Play around with garnishes. Go for a slice of orange, a strip of orange zest, add some herbs or pop in a couple of plump and juicy brined olives along with citrus (my favourite presentation of this Aperol Negroni).

The best gin to use

A decent quality craft gin or London Dry Gin makes a great base in this gin and Aperol cocktail. Which one really depends on personal preferences. Arguably, varieties that are either herbaceous, spice or citrus lead all fit tidily against the bitter fruit flavour profile of the Aperol apéritif.

The best sweet Vermouth to use

Entry-level sweet vermouth such as Cinzano or Martini Rosso both work perfectly fine in an Aperol Negroni cocktail. Push the boat out and opt for Antico Formula Carpano for a smoother finish or select Punt e Mes for a fuller-flavoured hit of sweet and rich Vermouth.

Alternatively, swap the sweet Vermouth for a drier one instead such as Noilly Prat. This is a great option for anybody with a niggling concern that the Aperol Negroni may be too sweet for them to enjoy.

Nutrition