If you love the bold warmth of a good bourbon but aren’t a fan of sparkling wine, this is the ultimate cocktail for you. While the trendy Aperol Spritz took over the summer drink scene a few years back, I never fully caught on because I’ve never been a Prosecco fan. Bourbon, on the other hand, completely won me over after moving to Kentucky nine years ago!
My curiosity about Aperol peaked after seeing those bright orange bottles everywhere. Instead of taking the traditional sparkling wine route, I started experimenting at home with club soda and different spirits. While vodka was okay, bourbon won by a landslide. The result is a smooth, refreshing, and incredibly easy Bourbon Aperol Spritz—the perfect drink for a hot summer evening or a crisp fall afternoon.
I became curious about Aperol only because I kept hearing about it and then I kept seeing it at my local Costco, so I had to give it a try. Instead of giving it the classic popular try with Prosecco, I decided to mix it with vodka and then bourbon with the addition of club soda or sparkling water; whichever I had on hand. While messing around with mixes, bourbon won!
That is how my very own bourbon spritz or aperol bourbon cocktail, however you want to call it came about. It’s just a smooth, refreshing and delicious drink; perfect for a hot summer day or a relaxing fall day as the temps start to cool down. This has become one of my new favorite go to cocktail recipes.
What is Aperol? (And What Does it Taste Like?)
Aperol is a botanical bitter orange-colored apertif. Per Aperol.com, it’s an “Italian bitter apéritif infused with orange, gentian, chinchona, and an array of other herbs and spices. It’s one of the amaro family of spirit-based, bitter drinks.” Ok, so it breaks some of my “personal rules” on what I ingest and promote. Unfortunately, it does have some artificial food coloring, as I suspected, given the color, but as with anything…in moderation, I’m ok with it.
How to Make a Bourbon Aperol Spritz (Step-by-Step)
The delicious cocktail is easy as can be. You don’t have to have any barkeeping experience to make this Aperol cocktail in minutes. This drink just consists of 3 main components: Bourbon, Aperol and sparkling water, with just a splash of lemon juice.
Just fill a cocktail glass about 3/4 full with your favorite ice, cubes or spheres. Add 1 1/2 oz. of bourbon, then 3/4 oz. of Aperol. Top with sparkling water or club soda. Add a splash of lemon juice and a garnish and you’re good to go. No cocktail shaker or fancy glassware needed. This might sound similar to a paper plane cocktail, but the difference would be Amaro liquor (another Italian botanical liqueur) which this does not have.
Bourbon Aperol Cocktail vs. The Paper Plane
If you enjoy a classic Paper Plane cocktail, you are going to absolutely love this drink. In fact, you can think of this recipe as a lighter, brighter, and much more accessible cousin to that famous modern classic.
A traditional Paper Plane combines equal parts bourbon, Aperol, fresh lemon juice, and Amaro Nonino—a specific, premium Italian bittersweet liqueur. While it’s a fantastic drink, Amaro Nonino can be tough to find at standard liquor stores and often costs upwards of $50 a bottle.
This recipe keeps the best part of that flavor profile—the irresistible pairing of warm, oaky bourbon and bright, bitter orange citrus—but swaps out the heavy, expensive amaro for crisp sparkling water (club soda).
Why This Swap Works: Removing the Amaro Nonino lowers the alcohol content by volume (ABV), making this drink incredibly refreshing and easy to sip on a warm afternoon. The sparkling water cuts through the sweetness of the Aperol, giving you a bubbly, refreshing drink without needing a specialty bottle of alcohol.
If you’ve been looking for creative cocktails with Bourbon and Aperol but don’t want to hunt down rare ingredients, this simple 4-ingredient mix is the perfect alternative.
The 4 Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
To mix up this refreshing twist on an Aperol Spritz, you only need four main ingredients and a simple citrus garnish.
- Bourbon Whiskey: Living in Kentucky, I am definitely biased toward a classic Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey! I love supporting our amazing local distilleries. If you are shopping at your local liquor store, excellent widely available options include Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, or Maker’s Mark. A bourbon with a bit of warmth and oak balance cuts through the sweetness of the Aperol beautifully.
- Aperol Aperitif: This vibrant, orange-hued Italian aperitif brings a distinctly bittersweet citrus flavor and beautiful color to the glass. Its complex orange and herbal notes make this drink feel like the ultimate refreshing summer cocktail.
- Sparkling Water: Plain club soda, unflavored seltzer, or your favorite sparkling mineral water works perfectly here. The goal is to add clean, crisp bubbles to lighten up the drink without adding extra sugar.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the necessary bright acidity to balance the rich bourbon and sweet Aperol. In a pinch, fresh lime juice works too!
Cocktail Garnish Ideas
To make your drink feel extra special, finish it off with a citrus garnish. You can use whatever you have handy in your kitchen:
- A classic lemon or orange twist
- Fresh orange slices or wheels
- The Pro-Garnish Option: If you don’t mind a little extra sweetness, float a candied orange slice on top (I get mine from Trader Joe’s!). It looks incredibly fancy and makes a delicious treat to eat at the bottom of the glass.
Refreshing Bourbon Aperol Spritz Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Bourbon
- .75 oz. Aperol
- Splash Lemon Juice
- Club Soda or Sparkling Water
- Garnish Orange or Lemon Slice
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail glass about 3/4 full with your favorite type of ice; cubes, crushed or spheres.
- Add 1 1/2 oz. of bourbon, then 3/4 oz. of Aperol.
- Top with sparkling water or club soda.
- Add a splash of lemon juice and a garnish of lemon or orange if you so choose to.
- Start sipping and enjoy!
Bourbon is my jam, and this is my new summer cocktail! It’s crisp and refreshing…I squeezed a lemon wedge in and since I’m at home with no one to impress, I throw that wedge right on top. I like the idea of occasionally adding cherries, but it’s perfect to me as is.
Awesome, Heather! I’m glad you like it! It’s my summer fave as well. Cheers!
This drink has made me become a bourbon drinker! I could do my occasional old fashioned and then go back to wine, but I just love this drink. The cocktail cherries are the icing on top.
Ha! Love it, Alyssa! Happy to hear it’s a new bourbon cocktail option for you to enjoy. You’ll have to try the bourbon cream chocolate martini next!
This drink is fun for any occasion! We added a slice of orange and a couple of maraschino cherries. It is a very classy drink!
Great, Vera! So happy to hear you like it. Thank you so much for sharing!