There's a reason why Aperol is such a staple at winter cocktail parties. Combine the Aperol, prosecco and cranberry in a glass with ice, add in an orange wedge and a sprig of rosemary and you've got a party in a glass! However, Aperol can work wonders for stronger pick-me-ups, especially if they have tequila in them.
When combined with tequila, Aperol offers a unique flavour profile that is bittersweet and elevated. Aperol's bitter orange complexity underlines tequila's unique earthiness. Aperol is a beloved red-orange bitter apéritif born in northern Italy. It's often referred to as Campari's breezier cousin, mainly because Aperol has less heat and can be used in more cocktails.
The reason Aperol accents tequila better than Campari is that Aperol is sweeter; it's more beginner-friendly if you're new to the world of liqueurs since Campari can be quite bitter. Aperol can bring forward tequila's intensity and also make it more pairable at the same time.
Choose Your Tequila Right
For fall and winter cocktails, it's better to move from a blanco to a reposado, irrespective of the cocktail you're making. Blanco is unaged while a reposado is aged up to a year. The added time in the barrel tends to result in a more comforting flavour with woody, spiced flavours.
Know Your Aperol
Before you can start experimenting with tequila and Aperol drinks, familiarise yourself with the versatile liqueur. Aperol contains sweet and bitter oranges, rhubarb, and gentian root. Its bitterness comes from the bark of the cinchona tree which has quinine. Experiment with mixing Aperol with other alcohol or with bitters, syrups and tonics to fathom its flavour.
Use Multiple Liquers
When you're trying to find the right mix for a tequila and Aperol cocktail, try blending in more than one liqueur, preferably a sweet and tropical one, so you can do some trial and error.
If you like your drinks on the sweeter side, try going for a sweet orange liqueur for an edgier taste, mix Aperol, Campari and tequila and see if the headiness is right for your taste. If you're using blanco, stick to using jalapeno or lime juice or try a Chile pepper infusion; it will balance out the bitterness and also give it an agreeable kick.
Adding Aperol to a gin and tonic is a great way to see if the flavour is working for you. The dryness of the G&T complements the Aperol's zest sweetness. This is also why Aperol works so well with seasonal flavours like orange bitters, prosecco, muddled limes, berry-flavoured vodka and lemon-lime soda.