Orange-Red Aperitivo Cocktails: 20 Best
Words by Simon Difford
What better on a summer's evening than a light bittersweet cocktail made with an orange-red aperitivo liqueur? The Aperitivo Spritz is by far the best-known example, but this style of liqueur adds attractive subtle bitterness to a myriad of other cocktails. Follows our pick of the 20 best.
Brazuca Remedy With: Basil leaves, silver cachaça, limoncello, orange-red aperitivo, lemon juice, honey syrup and pasteurised egg white. We say: Bittersweet and complex with underlying cachaça character. Perfect as an aperitivo.
Caneflower Cocktail With: Silver cachaça, orange-red aperitivo, elderflower liqueur and chilled water. We say: Rust coloured and bittersweet with cachaça and elderflower.
Clockwork Orange No.2 With: Aquavit, orange-red aperitivo, French press coffee, sugar syrup and chocolate bitters. We say: Easy drinking, neither sweet or sour, this cocktail with its subtle coffee notes suits breakfast, teatime or aperitivo but was originally created as a dessert cocktail.
Division Bell With: Mezcal, orange-red aperitivo, maraschino liqueur and lime juice. We say: A mezcal inspired variation of the Last Word with a refreshing, spirit-forward blend of ingredients.
Eclipse Cocktail With: Añejo tequila, cherry brandy liqueur, orange-red aperitivo, lemon juice and mezcal. We say: Beautifully balanced bitter-sweetness with tequila and mezcal sitting harmoniously with cherry and aperitivo liqueurs, with lemon freshness. A perfect aperitivo cocktail.
Enrico Palazzo With: Bourbon, sweet vermouth, orange-red aperitivo, gentian liqueur and grapefruit bitters. We say: A bittersweet Manhattan-style lightly sparkling cocktail.
The Italian Job With: Pot still Jamaican rum, Cocchi Americano Bianco, orange-red aperitivo, Byrrh aperitif aromatised wine and orange bitters. We say: Bittersweet and boozy with a dry finish. Striking the right degree of dilution is key to the success of this cocktail - stir a little longer than usual and if using ice straight from the freezer perhaps consider adding a dash of chilled water.
Naked & Famous With: Mezcal, orange-red aperitivo, Yellow Chartreuse liqueur and lime juice. We say: Salmon pink in colour. Mezcal adds earthy smoky complexity to this bittersweet, citrusy fresh, aperitivo cocktail. Getting naked can certainly help you become famous!
Last Flight With: Bourbon, Green Chartreuse, orange-red aperitivo and lemon juice. We say: This appropriately named boozy cocktail is a cross between a Last Word and a Paper Plane.
Lavarello With: Silver cachaça, orange-red aperitivo, Cynar, chocolate bitters and chilled water. We say: A riff on the Rabo-de-Galo with bittersweet aperitivo in place of sweet vermouth.
Lost Plane With: Bermuda dark rum, orange-red aperitivo, amaro and lemon juice. We say: Amaro's distinctive flavours shine through alongside the dark rum in this aperitivo cocktail.
Montreal Cocktail With: Dry gin, Canadian rye whiskey, orange-red aperitivo and gentian liqueur. We say: Stirred, spirituous and bittersweet, this aperitif-style cocktail reflects Montreal's French and English influences with London Dry Gin and gentian liqueur.
Negroni and the Goat With: Dry gin, orange-red aperitivo, sweet well-aged vermouth and amaro. We say: Negroni in name and Negroni in style with the sweetness of orange-red aperitivo countered by the use of amaro.
Oh Cecilie With: Dry gin, orange-red aperitivo, sweet vermouth, Picon Amer and aromatic bitters. We say: A tasty Danish riff on the Negroni.
Paper Plane With: Bourbon, amaro, orange-red aperitivo and lemon juice. We say: This pink/rust red drink is bittersweet with underlying bourbon character and lemon zestiness.
Perennial With: Rhubarb flavoured vodka, Lillet Blanc and orange-red aperitivo. We say: Gently bitter rhubarb - a very tasty aperitivo.
Queen Mother With: Dry gin, Dubonnet Red, orange-red aperitivo and pot still Jamaican rum. We say: Pot still Jamaican rum adds delicate but distinctive funky notes to this lightly sweet fruity gin-laced cocktail.
Ragtime With: Absinthe, orange-red aperitivo, amaro, rye whiskey and creole-style bitters. We say: This bittersweet drink benefits from the strength of bonded rye whiskey and was originally made with Rittenhouse.
Sunset Strip With: Bourbon, orange-red aperitivo and pink grapefruit liqueur. We say: Somewhat reminiscent of Shakerato, the Sunset Strip seems to benefit from the aeration and extra dilution provided by shaking.
When The Smoke Cleared With: Mezcal, orange-red aperitivo, ginger syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice and saline solution. We say: Smoky, tangy and complex with layers of flavour, although happily mezcal dominates.
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