Refreshing Bourbon Aperol Spritz Cocktail

Aperol bourbon cocktail in clear rocks glass with sphere craft ice cubes and candied orange slice with Aperol bottle in background with another cocktail

5 from 3 votes

Refreshing Bourbon Aperol Spritz Cocktail

This bright and flavorful concoction combines the boldness of bourbon with the delicate bitterness of Aperol, creating a drink that is refreshing and delicious. It's like a spritz without prosecco, replaced with good ol' Bourbon. Simple and delicious!

Prep Time2

Total Time2

Course: Cocktail, Drinks

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: Adult Beverage, beverage, Cocktail, Summer Cocktail

Servings: Cocktail

Calories: 151kcal

Author: Katia

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!

Notes

1. Can I make this in a pitcher for parties? Absolutely! You can easily batch this cocktail ahead of time for entertaining. Simply multiply the bourbon, Aperol, and fresh lemon juice by the number of servings you need and mix them together in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Crucial Tip: Do not add the ice or the sparkling water to the pitcher ahead of time. Pour the chilled batch into individual ice-filled glasses first, then top each glass with fresh sparkling water right before serving so the bubbles stay crisp and fizzy.

2. Bourbon Recommendations: Since Aperol has a sweet, distinctly bitter orange flavor profile, a high-quality, high-proof bourbon with a bit of spice (like a high-rye bourbon) balances the drink beautifully. However, use whatever favorite go-to bourbon you have on hand in your home bar!

3. Sparkling Water Options: Plain club soda or standard unflavored sparkling mineral water works perfectly here. If you want to experiment with flavor, a lemon or lime-flavored sparkling water adds a fantastic extra splash of citrus brightness.

4. Looking for a Classic "Paper Plane" Cocktail? If you happen to have a bottle of Amaro Nonino on hand, you can easily turn these ingredients into a classic Paper Plane. Simply omit the sparkling water and shake equal parts (¾ oz each) of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice with ice, then strain it into a coupe glass.

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