🥃 Aperol Aperitivo
Aperol Aperitivo is the core Aperol: a bright orange Italian bittersweet aperitif of fruits, herbs and roots, 11% ABV, the base of the Aperol Spritz.
Aperol Aperitivo is the core line of the Aperol brand, from which Spritz cocktails are made. It is an Italian aperitif of bright orange colour with a bittersweet taste; its strength is 11% ABV. The recipe is based on fruits, herbs and roots. On the producer's website it is sold in 70 cl and 1 l bottles, so this is the most common format of the brand.
Composition and taste. The producer calls the recipe strictly confidential: it is only known that the drink is an infusion of high-quality fruits, herbs and roots. The aromas described are orange peel and herbs with a note of vanilla, and the texture is velvety with a long bittersweet finish. According to the producer, Aperol is gluten-free and suitable for vegans.
Why this matters to you. This is the reference line against which the brand's ready-made spritz products are compared. At 11% ABV the drink is not strong under EU rules (which set the minimum at 15%), but a low strength does not make alcohol safe. Read the name on the label and compare the percentages of different formats. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Raw material | infusion of fruits, herbs and roots (recipe confidential) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 11% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Aperol Aperitivo → kind of → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Campari Group
- Made from
- 🍷 Prosecco
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Aperitif
- Part of
- 🥃 Aperol, 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve, 🥃 Aperol Spritz To Go, 🥃 Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve, 🥃 Aperol Spritz To Go, 🥃 Campari, 🥃 Galliano L'Aperitivo
Frequently asked questions
What is the ABV of Aperol, and of the Aperol Spritz cocktail?
11% ABV; for the Aperol Spritz cocktail the producer gives 9%.
What goes into an Aperol Spritz?
By the 3-2-1 recipe: 3 parts Prosecco, 2 Aperol, 1 soda water.
Is it a bitter like Campari when I see both on a UK or US shelf?
Both are Italian bitter aperitifs, but this one is bright orange and lighter, while Campari is red and stronger.
Is it counted as a spirit on a British or American label?
It sits below the minimum strength that EU rules set for a spirit drink, so it is a low-strength aperitif, though a low strength does not make alcohol safe.
Is it an aperitif or a digestif?
An aperitif: bittersweet and orange, meant for before a meal, whereas a digestif follows it.
What to read next
- 🥃 Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve — Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve is a ready-made Aperol cocktail of citrus oil steeped in herbs and roots, sparkling wine and soda water, sold as three 20 cl bottles.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Campari — Campari is an Italian bitter aperitif of vivid red, invented in Milan in 1860 according to the producer and now made by Campari Group. In the EU it counts as a bitter-tasting spirit drink of at least 15% vol.; it is the classic Negroni ingredient.
- 🍷 Prosecco — Italian DOC wine from Glera across nine provinces: at least 85% Glera, maximum 126 hl/ha, about 660 million bottles a year.
Similar
🥃 Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve · 🥃 Aperol Spritz To Go · 🥃 Campari Soda · 🥃 Campari Spritz Ready-to-Serve · 🥃 Cynar 70 Proof · 🥃 Cynar Artichoke Liqueur
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Aperol: product page (11% ABV, 70 cl and 1 L, bittersweet, infusion of fruit, herbs and roots)
- Aperol: About Aperol FAQ (11% ABV, key ingredients, IBA Spritz recipe)
- Aperol: Ingredients & Nutrition FAQ (Aperol 11% ABV, Aperol Spritz 9% ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)