Aperol

Aperol is an iconic Italian aperitif that has become a symbol of summer, freshness and social occasions. Its bright orange colour and characteristic bittersweet taste set it apart from other liqueurs and make it an irreplaceable part of Italian bar culture.

The brand's history dates back to 1919, when it was launched in the city of Padua by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. Their family owned a liqueur factory, and after the First World War, they decided to bring something new to the market – a drink that would be lighter and more accessible than traditional Italian bitter liqueurs. The result was Aperol with an alcohol content of only 11 % ABV, which was exceptionally low by the standards of the time. The name ‘Aperol’ comes from the French apéro, which means aperitif, and from the beginning referred to its main purpose – to stimulate the appetite and create a pleasant mood before a meal.

The Aperol recipe is still a closely guarded secret. All that is known is that it is based on bitter and sweet oranges, various herbs and spices (such as rhubarb, gentian and cinchona) and other botanical ingredients. Aperol has a fresh, slightly bitter, citrusy sweet taste with a light spicy finish.

The brand's biggest boom came thanks to the Aperol Spritz cocktail, which originated in northern Italy. The combination of prosecco, Aperol and soda with ice and a slice of orange created a drink that became not only an Italian icon, but gradually a global one as well. Spritz was already popular in Venice and the surrounding area in the 1950s and 1960s, but it was not until later that it became a mass phenomenon around the world.

In 2003, the brand was acquired by the Campari Group, which transformed it into a global symbol of sociability and lifestyle. Marketing campaigns targeted mainly young people and friendly get-togethers, which definitively propelled Aperol into the big leagues. Today, it is sold in more than 50 countries around the world and is one of the fastest-growing brands of the Campari Group.

Interestingly, in the 1950s, Aperol was even promoted as a ‘healthier’ aperitif and appeared in advertisements featuring athletes and gymnasts. On the brand's centenary in 2019, the world's largest Aperol Spritz was served in Italy and Austria – a huge celebration of this phenomenon.

Today, Aperol is more than just an aperitif. It is a cultural phenomenon that combines family tradition, the Italian love of aperitifs and a modern lifestyle. It symbolises joy, summer and friendly moments over a glass of refreshing Spritz, which has become an integral part of social life around the world.

You can read more in our articles:

Aperol: the story of the orange phenomenon that changed aperitivo culture

#mixingathome Aperol Spritz

How to prepare "Aperol" at home