A gateway bitter tonic that could lead to Campari or Fernet Branca when you get older.
Notes: Aperol originated in 1919 in Padova, it was a product of the Barbieri Brothers who launched the revolutionary idea of an aperitif with an alcohol content of only 11 percent. Purchased in the ‘90s by Barbero 1891, Aperol then entered Gruppo Campari’s portfolio.
First Impression: Smells like a Campari light. Aromatic bitter orange with a host of aromatic, bitter, and earthy herbal notes wrapping around the orange. Sweet, bitter, alkali and acidic do a complex dance.
Appearance: Orange red, thinner body than Campari.On swirling, quickly retreats and leaves droplet on side of glass.
Taste: Mildly bitter and sweet orange buffered and rounded out by rhubarb with gentian adding a drying alkali bitterness with floral citrus finish.Much less challenging than Campari in the bitterness with a pronounced orange also by comparison.
Drinks: Not a great deal of drinks call for it. Lighter, more fruity alternative to Campari if you like, worthy of experimentation.
Bottle: Clear glass bottle, cylindrical with a rounded shoulder 3/4 of the way up and a slightly large neck with a screwtop closure. Nicely done label has very european look to it and helps it stand out on a shelf.
Other: Makers of a number of other products – such as Campari and Cynar – (a very under appreciated bitter in my opinion).
Final Thoughts: Versatile product if not too well known in US. Great modifier ingredient to a drink, very useful flavors without being too sweet. Lovely red/orange coral color to it turns the rim of a martini glass a cocktail of it is in a very attractive orange also through refraction.
