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Two beloved cocktails—Aperol Spritz and Margarita—come together to create the Aperol Margarita, a fun and refreshing cocktail that’s as delicious as it is stunning!
Inspiration for the Aperol Margarita
This margarita has a bit if a tiki flare to it thanks to it’s gorgeous color and mild almond flavor. It’s inspired by a drink called the Dead Man’s Handle from Miss Carousel in Houston.
At Miss Carousel, the drink is made with tequila blanco, Aperol, lime juice, orgeat and Tajin. I stayed pretty close to the original version, but instead of orgeat (an almond syrup which can be hard to find), I use a quick almond simple syrup that’s made with almond extract.
Look for orgeat in specialty liquor stores. If you can find it, use it (it’s also featured in my Georgia Peach Cocktail)! But I figure if it’s hard for me to find in New York City, it’s probably hard to find it most places. Plus, the almond simple syrup is SO easy to make with pantry ingredients.
Reader Review
I made this drink exactly per the recipe using trader vic’s orgeat syrup. I didn’t have tajin so I used marg salt. Fantastic drink that looks amazing
– Steve
This recipe article was originally published September 16, 2020, it has since been updated with helpful tips, ingredient information, and a recipe video for guaranteed success.
Ingredients in Aperol Margarita
Here are some notes on what you’ll need for the cocktail. For ingredient amounts, jump down to the recipe card.
- Aperol: the bittersweet Italian aperitif.
- Orgeat or homemade almond syrup: for the syrup you’ll need sugar and almond extract. If you’re like me and have orange blossom water on hand for some reason—add a splash of that as well.
- Tequila Blanco: use this instead of reposado for its clean, bright flavor.
- Limes: fresh is best, always!
What is Aperol?
Aperol is an Italian apéritif that’s low in alcohol content and is both slightly sweet and slightly bitter with notes of both orange and rhubarb. It’s the main ingredient in the Aperol Spritz, but that’s not the only cocktail you can use it in!
How to Make a Margarita with Aperol
Here’s a quick rundown of how to make this marg. Jump down to the recipe card for the full recipe.
- The first step is to make the almond simple syrup. This isn’t a common addition to aperol margaritas but I think it really enhances the overall flavor and makes this a true craft cocktail. Heat the sugar and water together until the sugar is dissolved. Off heat, add the almond extract and set aside to cool.
- Fill two rocks glasses with crushed ice (I like crushed ice here, it just makes it different. Use regular ice if you prefer.)
- Add the tequila, Aperol, fresh lime juice, and almond simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, secure lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled.
- Strain margaritas into prepared glasses and finished with a dash of Tajín if desired.
Test Kitchen Tip
Just like in cooking, cocktails should be seasoned with salt. Salt enhances and balances flavors. Add just a pinch of salt to the cocktail right before shaking and it will dissolve nicely into the cocktail.
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Aperol Margarita
Description
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Ingredients
Almond Syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
Aperol Margaritas
- 3 ounces blanco tequila
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1½ ounces Aperol
- ⅔ ounce almond syrup, or orgeat
- kosher salt
- Crushed ice
- Tajín, for garnish
Instructions
Almond Syrup
- For the syrup, bring ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Off heat, stir in 1 teaspoon almond extract; let cool.
Aperol Margaritas
- Fill two rocks glasses or stemless tulip glasses with crushed ice.
- Add 3 ounces tequila, 2 ounces lime juice, 1½ ounces Aperol, ⅔ ounce almond simple syrup and a pinch of salt to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, secure lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled.
- Strain margaritas into prepared glasses. Finish with a light sprinkle of Tajin and serve.
I made this drink exactly per the recipe using trader vic’s orgeat syrup. I didn’t have takin so I used marg salt. Fantastic drink that looks amazing
Hi Steve, I’m glad to hear the orgeat syrup worked well! Thanks for giving it a try, I’m happy you liked it!
Orgeat is not hard to aquire. It’s a bar basic if it serves Mai Tai’s or other “tiki” drinks
Bartender here, for homemade orgeat mix equal parts simple syrup & almond milk with a few dashes of orange blossom water ♡ I’ve made something similar (with agave) and it was a great cocktail – excited to try this out with orgeat! Thanks for sharing!