Italy's Most Iconic Aperitivo, The Soul of the Spritz

Aperol is the drink that defined a generation of aperitivo culture. Born in Padua, Italy in 1919, this vibrant orange Italian bitter has been the centrepiece of pre-dinner drinking across Europe for over a century, and its global moment is very much now. Made from a secret recipe of bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb, gentian, and a blend of herbs and roots, Aperol strikes a perfect balance between bittersweet complexity and refreshing approachability. At just 11% ABV, it is lower in alcohol than most spirits, making it the ideal choice for long, leisurely drinking. At HK$199 for 700ml, this is the essential bottle for anyone who loves entertaining, sunshine, and the Italian art of taking your time.

Tasting Notes

Vivid orange in the glass with a warm, inviting glow. The nose 

is bright and aromatic, sweet orange a

nd mandarin lead, with a gentle herbal bitterness from gentian and rhubarb underneath. On the palate, the bittersweet balance is impeccable: fresh citrus sweetness up front, building to a pleasantly bitter, herbal mid-palate with notes of vanilla and woody spice. The finish is clean, refreshing, and gently bitter, the kind of finish that makes you reach for another sip almost immediately.

Signature Cocktails

Aperol Spritz

• 90ml prosecco
• 60ml Aperol
• 30ml soda water
• Ice
• Garnish: half slice of fresh orange

Method: Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the prosecco first, then the Aperol, then a splash of soda water. Stir gently once to combine. Garnish with a half slice of fresh orange. This is the 3-2-1 ratio, the official Aperol Spritz formula, and it is perfect every single time. Bright, bittersweet, effervescent, and utterly refreshing. The drink that turns any occasion into an occasion.

Aperol Negroni Sbagliato

• 30ml Aperol
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• 60ml prosecco
• Ice
• Garnish: orange twist

Method: Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add the Aperol and sweet vermouth, then top with prosecco. Stir gently once to combine. Express an orange twist over the glass and garnish. A lighter, more effervescent riff on the classic Negroni, the Sbagliato (Italian for "mistaken") swaps gin for prosecco, creating something that is simultaneously sophisticated and dangerously easy to drink. Aperol's bittersweet character makes it a natural fit here, softening the vermouth and letting the bubbles do the work.

Life's too short for bad wine.