If you love the Aperol Spritz and are a bourbon fan, then this Aperol Old Fashioned is perfect for you! This sweet and citrusy old bourbon cocktail combines bourbon whiskey, Aperol, simple syrup, orange, and cherry bitters to make the most delightful drink!
Bourbon and orange are such a delicious flavor combination, especially when using a bourbon with lots of orange and citrus notes. I used Angels Envy for the recipe, and it came out beautifully!
I love an old fashioned but also love how many riff and flavor versions you can make; just check out my How to make a perfect Old Fashioned post, banana bread old fashioned, or this bourbon espresso old fashioned.
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⭐ Why you will love this recipe:
- Perfect for Aperol spritz lovers! This takes the beloved Aperol falvor and mixes it with a sweet orange-y bourbon.
- Makes the most out of bourbon with notes of orange and citrus.
- So easy! This is so easy to make and can all be assembled in one glass.
🥘 Key Ingredients:
Bourbon: Bourbon is the key ingredient in any old-fashioned, and for this one, using a bourbon that blends well with and brings out the orange flavor in the Aperol. A sweet bourbon with notes of orange is our favorite.
🥃 What is the best bourbon for this cocktail:
Angels Envy is my favorite for this cocktail because it blends so well with orange flavors in the Aperol and is a sweet, clean, and smooth bourbon.
Aperol: Aperol is a bitter-sweet Italian apéritif with orange, rhubarb, and various herbs. It shines in this old fashioned where its sweet yet slightly bitter flavor is harmonized with bourbon and bitters. It's also wonderful in the iconic Aperol spritz and its variations, like this Strawberry Aperol Spritz and this Cranberry Aperol Spritz.
Simple syrup: I used a homemade simple syrup that is 1 cup water to 1 cup granulated sugar. But a store-bought version works great as well!
Bitters: We used orange and spiced cherry bitters to finish this drink, and the subtle hint of cherry and the added orange really round out the cocktail.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 How to make this recipe:
Step 1: Add ice to a rocks glass.
Step 2: Top with the 1 ½ ounce bourbon, ½ ounce Aperol, 2 teaspoon simple syrup, 2 dashes of orange bitters, and 1 dash of spiced cherry bitters.
Step 3: Stir to combine.
Step 4: Finish with an orange wedge and maraschino cherry.
💭 Expert tips:
Suggested Barware: Use a jigger to measure your bourbon, Aperol, and syrup accurately. Also, using a cocktail stirrer is beneficial because it fits so well around the ice.
Ice: Use a large ice cube because it melts slower and is less likely to dilute the drink.
Make your own syrup: making your own simple is so easy and cost-effective. Just cook 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar until all the sugar has melted, then let cool.
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Aperol Old Fashioned
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: stirred
- Cuisine: american
Description
If you love the Aperol Spritz and are a bourbon fan, then this Aperol Old Fashioned is perfect for you! This sweet and citrusy old bourbon cocktail combines bourbon whiskey, Aperol, simple syrup, orange, and cherry bitters to make the most delightful drink!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounce bourbon- preferably Angels Envy or other bourbon with orange notes
- ½ ounce Aperol
- 2 tsp simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 dash of spiced cherry bitters
- Garnish maraschino cherry
- And orange slice
Instructions
- Add ice to a rocks glass then top with bourbon, aperol, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir to combine the drink.
- Garnish with an ornage wedge and maraschino cherries.
Notes
Make homemade simple syrup by heating 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water on medium-low until all the sugar has dissolved.
The simple syrup will make 8-10 cocktails and keep for 1 up to one month in the fridge.
Jess says
Fabulous cocktail recipe! Love discovering new cocktail recipes with bourbon.
Bob says
I had better luck mixing this in a mixing glass - building it in the rocks glass created an inconsistent mix as the simple syrup went to the bottom, and my large sphere of ice was too large for the mixing spoon to really work well. But the first attempt (mixing glass) was delicious!