Aperol Cordials
Padua's orange bitter, poured in Commack since the start.
The story behind Aperol
Two brothers, Luigi and Silvio Barbieri, inherited their father's liqueur house in Padua in 1912 and spent seven years tinkering before they introduced Aperol at the Padua International Fair in 1919. The Veneto has been drinking it ever since, first as an aperitivo and later as the backbone of the spritz.
The recipe is still a secret. What is confirmed: sweet and bitter oranges with their oils, gentian root, rhubarb, and cinchona bark, macerated in an alcohol base. No barrel, no grapes, no wine. Eleven percent ABV, 22 proof, orange in the glass and sweeter and lighter than its Campari stablemate. We have poured it for Long Island customers for three decades.
Explore the Aperol range
Aperol keeps it simple: one aperitivo in three bottle sizes. The 1 liter is the value pick for spritz season, the 375mL for a first try.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperol Aperitivo 375mL | Bitter aperitivo liqueur | 22 proof (11% ABV) | Orange, rhubarb, gentian; small format for testing |
| Aperol Aperitivo 750mL | Bitter aperitivo liqueur | 22 proof (11% ABV) | Standard bottle; spritz and Paper Plane workhorse |
| Aperol Aperitivo 1L | Bitter aperitivo liqueur | 22 proof (11% ABV) | Liter size; best value for parties and bars |
| Aperol Spritz (3-2-1 build) | Mixed serve, not a bottle | Varies with Prosecco | Prosecco, soda, orange slice; IBA formula |
| Paper Plane (cocktail) | Mixed serve, not a bottle | Varies with Bourbon | Equal parts Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, lemon |
| Aperol Sour (cocktail) | Mixed serve, not a bottle | Varies with base spirit | Citrus and egg white soften the bitter edge |
Which Aperol is right for you?
Our shelf runs $16.99 for the 375mL, $27.99 for the 750mL, and $33.99 for the 1 liter, all Aperol Aperitivo at 11 percent ABV. Per ounce the liter wins, and if you plan on spritzes through the summer that is the bottle to buy. The 750mL is currently out of stock online; call the Commack store at (631) 343-7200 and we will tell you when it lands. The 375mL is the honest way to find out if the bitter orange suits you before committing to a liter.
Liter pours roughly 16 spritzes at 2 ounces each; one bottle carries a party.
Low commitment, low price, enough for three or four spritzes to decide.
Standard size for Paper Planes and sours; the bottle most recipes assume.