Aperol-based cocktails transport me back to an evening I spent at Café Gustave in Paris, France. With the Eiffel Tower stretched out above me against a twilight sky, I sat down at a red and white checkered table and ordered what had become my staples for the trip: a chilled spritz and a side of sizzling pommes frites.
Upon returning Stateside, Aperol spritzes were my drink of choice for many months, but I began longing for the flavors of home. Hence why I began my search for other ways to use Aperol in my libations.
When I discovered an Aperol margarita, I knew I had struck gold. Being the produce-obsessed consumer that I am, I quickly substituted some of the ingredients for freshly squeezed juices to elevate the cocktail, making it an indulgence that will carry those springtime Parisian vibes through the long California winter.
This Orange You Glad Margarita will be a beacon of light to shoppers looking for citrus-inspired recipes. That arresting red hue of Aperol catches the eye, and when displayed beside a mountain of fresh oranges and limes, there is a good chance it will promptly land in consumers’ carts. For who can resist a taste of France?
1½ oz tequila blanco
1 oz Aperol
1 fresh lime, juiced
1 fresh orange, juiced
½ oz agave nectar
Salt, for glass rim
Orange twist, to garnish
Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1
1. Combine the tequila (my favorite is Casamigos), Aperol, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 1 oz fresh orange juice, and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the mixture is chilled.
2. Wet the rim of your favorite cocktail glass with the lime juice and dip into salt.
3. Pour the margarita mixture into the glass over fresh ice, garnish with an orange peel twist, and let your mind drift off to a European summer.
Recipe by Beautiful Booze: Stylish Cocktails to Make at Home
