6 Aperitivo cocktails you can make in minutes!

Embark on a flavorful journey before dinner with our exquisite selection of 'aperitivo' cocktails. These drinks are crafted to whet your appetite and introduce a convivial atmosphere. Perfect for social gatherings or a relaxing evening, each cocktail offers a unique taste that sets the stage for an unforgettable meal.

Discover the Art of Aperitivo

The Italian tradition of 'aperitivo' is a cherished ritual, where drinks are served to create anticipation for the meal ahead. Here's why you'll love it:

  • Engaging Conversations: These cocktails are designed to be sipped slowly, fostering great conversations.
  • Flavor Profile: Expect a balance of bitter, sweet, and aromatic notes that tantalize your taste buds.
  • Versatility: Whether you prefer gin, vermouth, or Aperol, there's an 'aperitivo' for every palate.

When to Indulge in Aperitivo Cocktails

  • Pre-Dinner: The best time to enjoy these drinks is in the late afternoon or early evening.
  • Social Events: They're the perfect starter for a night with friends or a sophisticated party.
  • Solo Relaxation: Treat yourself to a moment of peace with a refreshing cocktail in hand.

Garibaldi

The Garibaldi cocktail offers a bittersweet taste with a tangy citrus kick. The Campari provides a herbal bitterness that is perfectly balanced by the fresh, sweet and slightly tart flavor of the orange juice.

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Ingredients

  • Campari: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Orange juice: 4 oz(120ml)
  • Orange wedge: 1

Recipe

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
  2. Add 1 1/2 ounces of Campari.
  3. Top with approximately 4 ounces of fresh 'fluffy' orange juice.
  4. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
  5. Garnish with a fresh orange wedge on the rim of the glass.

Campari Tonic

The Campari Tonic has a distinctly bitter and herbal taste with a hint of sweetness from the Campari. The tonic water adds a quinine bitterness and a fizzy texture that lightens the drink. It's a balanced mix of bitter, sweet, and bubbly.

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Ingredients

  • Fever tree premium tonic water: 4.5 oz(135ml)
  • Campari: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Orange wedge: 1

Recipe

  1. Prepare the Glass
    • Fill a highball glass with ice cubes to the brim.
  2. Mix the Drink
    • Pour 1.5 oz of Campari over the ice.
    • Top with 4.5 oz of Fever-Tree Premium Tonic Water.
  3. Garnish
    • Gently stir the mixture.
    • Squeeze an orange wedge over the drink and drop it in or place it on the rim as garnish.

Puccini

The Puccini cocktail offers a delightful balance of sweetness and acidity, with the fresh mandarin juice providing a vibrant citrus flavor that complements the crisp, bubbly prosecco. It's light, refreshing, and has a subtle effervescence that tickles the palate.

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Ingredients

  • Mandarin juice: 1.7 oz(51ml)
  • Prosecco: 3.4 oz(102ml)

Recipe

  1. Juice the Mandarins: Start by juicing the fresh mandarins until you have about 1.7 ounces (50ml) of juice per cocktail. Strain the juice to remove any pulp.
  2. Prepare the Glass: Take a chilled flute glass and fill it with the fresh mandarin juice, about one third of the way.
  3. Add Prosecco: Gently pour the prosecco into the glass over the mandarin juice, filling it up to create the perfect Puccini cocktail.
  4. Serve: Serve immediately to enjoy the cocktail's effervescence and fresh flavor.

The Italian Job

The Italian Job is a harmonious blend of sweet and bitter, with the blood orange vodka providing a fruity punch that is balanced by the herbal bitterness of Campari. The vermouth adds complexity and a hint of spice, while the grapefruit juice offers a subtle tartness. Overall, it's a robust, refreshing, and slightly bitter cocktail with a citrusy finish.

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Ingredients

  • Skyy infusions blood orange vodka: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Campari: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Cinzano rosso vermouth: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Grapefruit juice: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Grapefruit peel: Garnish
  • Ice: Cubes

Recipe

  1. Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
  2. Pour 1 oz of SKYY Infusions Blood Orange Vodka, 1 oz of Campari, 1 oz of Cinzano Rosso Vermouth, and 0.25 oz of grapefruit juice into the shaker.
  3. Shake briefly until the mixture is well-chilled.
  4. Strain the mixture over fresh ice into a highball or Tom Collins glass.
  5. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel, expressing the oils over the drink before dropping it in.

Montenegroni

The Montenegroni is a harmonious blend of bitter, sweet, and herbal notes. The Aperol provides a gentle bitterness and citrusy sweetness, while the Amaro Montenegro adds a complex herbal backdrop. The gin offers a juniper-forward dryness that balances the cocktail, making it robust yet sippable.

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Ingredients

  • Tanqueray gin: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Amaro montenegro: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Aperol: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Grapefruit peel: 1 twist

Recipe

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Pour 1 oz Tanqueray gin, 1 oz Amaro Montenegro, and 1 oz Aperol over the ice.
  3. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
  5. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.

Basilico

The Basilico cocktail is a symphony of flavors, where the sweet and tangy notes of the Pallini Limoncello liqueur meet the aromatic freshness of basil. The vodka provides a clean canvas, allowing the lemon juice and rich sugar syrup to create a balanced, sweet yet slightly sour, and undeniably refreshing taste.

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Ingredients

  • Fresh basil leaves: 7
  • Ketel one vodka: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Pallini limoncello liqueur: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Lemon juice: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Rich sugar syrup: 1.5 oz(45ml)

Recipe

  1. Muddle the basil leaves gently in the base of a shaker.
  2. Add the vodka, limoncello, lemon juice, and sugar syrup to the shaker.
  3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
  4. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. Garnish with a sprig of basil.

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