This aperol soda cocktail features simple ingredients of aperol, soda water, and simple syrup but is packed with bittersweet flavor and juicy blood oranges. It is the perfect thirst-quenching cocktail for a hot summer day by the pool. The beautiful orange color of this aperol soda matches it's complex flavor, making it the perfect drink!
The italian cocktail of aperol spritzes have been all the rage in the United States lately and on social media, but ever heard of an aperol soda? It has bittersweet citrus flavors with the italian liqueur of aperol, juicy blood orange simple syrup, and bubbly soda water. Similar to an aperol spritz but less alcohol and even simpler to make. At home happy hour has arrived with this refreshing cocktail!
Of all summer cocktails, this is by far one of my favorites! It's vibrant orange color screams summer and it is so refreshing yet bitter. It is the best alcoholic drink to sip on on a hot day in Arizona by the pool or while outside in the warm weather summer months.
This aperol soda is also awesome to have as a pre-dinner drink before a big meal. Since Aperol is an italian bitter apéritif with low alcohol content and bitter flavor, it stimulates your appetite. Such a tasty cocktail to start an event or dinner amongst good company. It is sure to quickly become one of your favorite simple cocktail recipes to have in your arsenal when hosting.
If you love aperol cocktail recipes, you must try my orange aperol spritz, strawberry aperol spritz, or pomegranate aperol spritz.
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ingredients 🧾
Cocktail:
Aperol: The key ingredient of this cocktail... Aperol! Aperol is the star of this aperol soda recipe. It is an italian apéritif that tastes like bitter oranges. Aperol is what gives this aperol soda its bright orange color. You will need 1 ½ ounce or 50 ml of Aperol. You can get a bottle of Aperol at any grocery store or liquor stores. It can usually be found in the liqueur section next to the campari.
Soda: This bubbly cocktail gets its carbonation from club soda! You will need 3 ounces of soda water.
Blood Orange Simple Syrup: See below for the ingredients of homemade blood orange simple syrup. If you prefer to just buy simple syrup instead of making it homemade, you can purchase the Monin blood orange simple syrup. You will need .5 ounce of simple syrup.
Blood Orange Simple Syrup:
Oranges: 4 blood oranges make the exclusive note of orange in the syrup. The flavor of juicy blood orange pairs heavenly with the bitter italian aperitif of Aperol in this cocktail.
Sugar: You will need 1 cup of white granulated sugar. This is the base of the simple syrup.
Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!
variations & substitutions 📖
Change the simple syrup flavor. I love the combination of aperol with sweet oranges. It is such a harmonious sweet-bitter balance. However you can use a variety of different citrus in the simple syrup instead to bring out other flavor notes. Lemon juice instead of orange juice will make it a very tart cocktail, limes will make it more zingy, and grapefruit will make it more bright. Experiment with different simple syrups to add to the aperol soda!
Instead of soda water, you can use tonic water, flavored soda, or mineral water. Tonic water has a distinct bitter flavor from quinine found in the cinchona bark. If you love a very dry bitter drink, tonic water is the perfect choice. Whereas if you like a sweeter cocktail that has only a slightly bitter taste, try using orange flavor soda or grapefruit soda like Fresca or Squirt. If you prefer the natural carbonation of mineral water, you can use that too.
Alter the ratios to make your perfect cocktail. I love the 2 part soda water to 1 part aperol ratio, but if you prefer a stronger drink you can use just a splash of soda water or equal parts aperol to soda water. You can use less aperol for a low-alcohol drink or increase the amount of soda water in the drink. Just keep in mind the less soda water used, the more on the bitter side is will be.
Adapt this cocktail to be an aperol spritz recipe. This aperol soda can easily be turned into the perfect aperol spritz. Aperol spritzes just have sparkling wine added to them. So add 50 ml of prosecco or equal parts prosecco to aperol, and top with a splash of club soda.
tips & tricks 👩🏻🍳
Drink this aperol soda out of a fun cocktail glass. This is such a simple cocktail, the perfect way to spruce it up is in a cool cocktail glass! Try these funky bubble highball glasses or these fancy crystal highball glasses.
Shake in a cocktail shaker. Shaking the aperol and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker instead of stirring with a bar spoon creates a frothy drink. It incorporates air into the mixture and makes it bubbly. Shaking the aperol is a key step done when making the classic cocktail, aperol sour.
This aperol soda recipe only calls for 1 ½ ounce of aperol so keep the remaining alcohol at your home bar for more aperol cocktail recipes, like my aperol martini, aperol margarita, and aperol paloma! Aperol is such a great versatile liqueuer and is used in so many cocktail recipes.
step by step instructions 🔪
Step #1 - Make the blood orange simple syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the juices of the oranges and sugar. Bring to a boil until the sugar has melted.
Step #2 - Steep the simple syrup. Then remove from the heat and let the flavors steep for at least 10 minutes. Using a mesh sieve strain out any orange pulp and pour the syrup into a mason jar.
Step #3 - Make the cocktail. In a highball glass, add the 1 ½ ounces of aperol (or 50 ml aperol) and ½ ounce of simple syrup. Using a bar spoon give it a gentle stir to combine.
Step #4 - Top off and garnish the cocktail. Pour ice cubes into the drink. Add the soda water (3 ounces). Top with a fresh orange slice. Cheers!
serving suggestions 🍽️
Serve this Aperol soda in a highball glass or large wine glass with a slice of orange or orange wedge on top! You can add fresh herbs like mint or rosemary as garnish as well.
To complete your aperitivo hour, pair this Aperol cocktail with light appetizers like fried goat cheese balls, air fryer brie bites, and rosemary focaccia bread.
faq’s ❓
If your aperol soda is tasting particularly bitter, it is typically because of flat soda water. If the soda water is lacking carbonation, it could be making the bitterness more pronounced. Experiment with different brands of soda water or sparkling water. My favorites are Topo Chico club soda or Fever-tree club soda.
Aperol soda and Aperol spritz are very similar, both containing Aperol and soda water, however an aperol spritz also has prosecco. Since Aperol spritz has prosecco added, it has a higher alcohol content than an Aperol soda. Both are very refreshing, bitter italian cocktails!
Drink your Aperol soda in a highball cocktail glass beautifully garnished and filled with ice. You can use a fresh orange slice, orange wedge, or even the peel of an orange to garnish this drink. Also add some fresh herbs like rosemary or mint as a garnish for aromatics when drinking. Try using pebble ice or even sphere ice balls to elevate the cocktail even more!
Aperol comes from bitter rhubarb, gentian root, and cinchona. All of those 3 ingredients contribute to its quite bitter taste and give that dry mouth feel. However when paired with juicy fruit flavors like orange or strawberry, the bitterness is perfectly complimented and not too strong.
other cocktail recipes
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recipe 📋
Aperol Soda
This aperol soda cocktail features simple ingredients of aperol, soda water, and simple syrup. It is slightly bitter yet juicy and citrusy!
Ingredients
Aperol Soda
- 1 ½ ounces Aperol
- 3 ounces club soda
- ½ ounce blood orange simple syrup
Blood Orange Simple Syrup
- 4 blood oranges (juiced)
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
Instructions
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the juices of the oranges and sugar. Bring to a boil until the sugar has melted.
2. Then remove from the heat and let the flavors steep for at least 10 minutes. Using a mesh sieve strain out any orange pulp and pour the syrup into a mason jar.
3. In a highball glass, add the 1 ½ ounces of aperol and ½ ounce of simple syrup. Using a bar spoon give it a gentle stir to combine.
4. Pour ice cubes into the drink. Add the 3 ounces of soda water. Top with a fresh orange slice. Cheers!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 109Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 0g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
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