What Is Aperol Made Of?

Image of diy distilling what is aperol made of

A lot of people are familiar with Aperol, mostly because of the famous Aperol spritz. As to what it’s made from remains a mystery. Aperol is a liqueur made from a combination of oranges, herbs, and roots. The oranges are responsible for the zesty taste you get from the first sip, and the herbs and roots give it the complex bitter and herbal taste.

If you’ve wanted to know what this drink is made of, how it got its orange hue, and how you can whip up your own Aperol mix at home, carry on reading to find out.

What Is Aperol Made Of? 

Though the recipe still remains a secret, Aperol’s ingredients include an infusion of sweet and bitter oranges. To this, herbs, barks, and roots like cinchona, rhubarb, and gentian are added. 

What Gives Aperol Its Flavor?

Aperol has a bitter-sweet taste. The flavor is derived mainly from the oranges, roots, and herbs used to produce the liquor. Similar to most liqueurs, it’s also very sweet. It has a fruity zesty and strawberry taste with undertones of rosemary.

Image of diy distilling how to make aperol

Why Is Aperol Orange?

Until recent years (around the 2000s), Aperol got its color from dried and crushed cochineals. But the manufacturer stopped using this as a colorant citing they were uncertain of the continuous supply of the natural colorant. From then on, artificial coloring was used to give the drink its orange color. 

Is Aperol A Wine Or A Liqueur?

Aperol is a liqueur, but it can also be enjoyed as an aperitif before meals.

Does Aperol Contain Alcohol?

Aperol does contain alcohol. The alcohol content is 11% alcohol by volume (22 proof). 

Does Aperol Contain Sugar?

Aperol is known for its sweet taste. It’s the sweetest of alcohol when you compare it to other Italian bitter liqueurs like Campari and Luxardo. It has up to 507 grams of sugar per liter. 

Does Aperol Contain Gluten?

Aperol is gluten-free. It’s not made from any grains that contain gluten or manufactured in industries that produce or handle gluten products. So it’s suitable for coeliacs. It’s also vegan and vegetarian-friendly. 

How To Create Your Aperol At Home 

Aperol is a light fruity drink that you can enjoy during warm summer days or at any gathering. It’s versatile in that you can mix it with champagne or make a lighter version of Negroni. Because an Aperol spritz is one of the most famous drinks, we’ll show you how to do it in under 10 minutes. 

What you’ll need: 

  • 1 oz soda water
  • 2 oz Aperol
  • 3 oz Prosecco
  • 3-4 large ice cubes
  • 1 orange slice 
  • Wine glass or balloon tumbler

Method:

  1. Place the ice cubes in the glass.
  2. Pour all the ingredients (excluding the orange) on top of the ice.
  3. Give the drink a gentle stir (p to 2 seconds).
  4. Place the orange slice inside the drink, or thread it on a toothpick and put it.on top of the glass.
  5. Enjoy! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the main ingredients of Aperol?

Though most of the ingredients used in Aperol remain unknown, the main ingredients are sweet and bitter oranges, rhubarb, gentian roots, herbs, and cinchona.

Q. How is Aperol different from Campari?

Campari and Aperol are often confused with each other because of similar tones of red. But they do have some distinct differences. Aperol is a lighter version of Campari. Campari has intense bitterness with minimal sweetness. The liqueur (Campari) has more roots and barks infused with alcohol, which gives it a bold taste. 

The alcohol content for Aperol is 11% ABV (22 proof), and Campari has an alcohol content of up to 28% ABV (56 proof). Another difference between the two is that Aperol is a vibrant orange, and Campari is deep pink-red. 

Q. Can you drink Aperol straight? 

Because it’s a light drink and has a smooth mouthfeel, Aperol can be consumed straight. If you feel like mixing it with other drinks, you can add sparkling wine, soda water, or simply mix it with ice.

Conclusion

Italians are known to create and produce the most flavorful of drinks, and Aperol is one of them. The liqueur is made from an infusion of sweet and sour oranges, herbs, and roots. This combination gives the drink a balance of sweet and sour, without the alcohol sting.

It’s famously known for its deep orange color and the most loved Aperol spritz. Though it can be enjoyed straight, the flavors come alive when it’s mixed with ice or sparkling wine of your choice. 

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