Meatless Monday Challenge

4-Ingredient Vibrant Aperol Margarita

on July 1, 2021
last updated April 19, 2024
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This fresh new take on a classic margarita uses fresh lime and an Italian bitters apértif to give you a crisp, vibrant, Aperol Margarita.
Two Ice Cold Aperol Margaritas

Looking for an exciting new way to sip your tequila? This Aperol Margarita takes a delicious classic and puts a twist on it to bring you a brand new way to kick back and relax.

The use of Aperol here gives you the classic margarita taste and then some, with its slightly bitter aftertaste and a strong punch of citrus. It will easily become your new favorite unique margarita recipe.

Close Up of Salt Rimmed Glass With Ice and Red Cocktail Garnished With Lime

So What Is Aperol Anyway?

Aperol is a classic Italian bitters apértif known for its citrusy notes of orange and iconic bright red hue. As its description as an apértif suggests, it was originally intended as a before-dinner drink.

Green tip: Consider buying your liquor in glass bottles to reduce your contribution to plastic waste.

Margarita with Aperol Ingredients


Here’s everything else you’ll need:

  • Aperol.
  • Tequila. I prefer blanco tequila. That being said, if you prefer reposado, that absolutely plays well with these ingredients, too!
  • Agave. Or other sweetener of choice, like simple syrup.
  • Lime. I highly recommend using fresh lime for your lime juice. One large lime should get you all the juice you need.
  • Ice.
tequila, agave nectar, lime, ice, aperol

Aperol Margarita Tips and Tricks


Garnishing Your Rim

This part is optional, but if you want the ultimate margarita experience, it’s highly recommended! It’s simple to do. Just wet the rim of your glass with a wedge of lime and then dip it into salt.

You can put the salt on a plate, in a shallow bowl, or easiest of all—use a cocktail rimmer. I love using pink Himalayan salt here—it provides such a great contrast to the otherwise sweet margarita.

Moody Picture of Two Bright Red Margaritas

How to Make this Red Margarita

This margarita is so easy to whip up. You can do so in a cocktail shaker or just as easily mix them up right in the glass.

Just simply add your tequila, Aperol, agave nectar, and lime juice and give it a stir. Done and done!

Pouring tequila into a wine glass with ice.
Add the tequila to your salt-rimmed glass.
Pouring Aperol into a glass with ice and tequila.
Then, add the Aperol.
Adding agave nectar to a salt-rimmed glass with Aperol, blanco tequila, and ice.
Next, add the agave nectar.
Squeezing lime juice into a red margarita.
Finish your margarita with fresh lime juice.

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Why You Should Make This Aperol Margarita


  • That color! Just look at that vibrant red.
  • It’s refreshing. Thanks to the fresh lime juice.
  • It’s unique! We all love a classic margarita, but it’s fun to change it up every now and then!

If you’re loving this Aperol Margarita and are looking for more margaritas, check this list of Best Margaritas. And if you’re here for the Aperol, check out this list of Aperol Cocktails You Need to Try.

Two Ice Cold Aperol Margaritas

4-Ingredient Vibrant Aperol Margarita

5 from 1 vote
Marley Goldin
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This fresh new take on a classic margarita uses fresh lime and an Italian bitters apértif to give you a crisp, vibrant, Aperol Margarita.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon salt for rim (optional)
  • 2 ounces blanco tequila
  • 2 ounces Aperol
  • ½ ounce agave nectar
  • 1 ounce lime juice (1 oz usually = juice of 1 lime)
  • ¼ cup ice
  • 1 lime wedge for garnish
Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions
 

  • Optional: salt the rim by running a lime wedge along the rim of your glass to wet it, and then dunking your wet rim into salt in a shallow bowl or cocktail rimmer.
  • To your glass, add tequila, Aperol, agave nectar and lime juice to a glass with ice and stir well. Alternatively, you can shake your cocktail up in a cocktail shaker.
  • Serve cold and garnish with a lime wedge.

Pro Tips

  • You can use any sweetener in place of agave in an equal amount.
  • Use a fresh lime if you can.
  • You can substitute reposado tequila for blanco if that is your preference.
  • I love Aperol—so much so that I have a whole collection of my best Aperol cocktail recipes!

Share This Recipe

Course Cocktails
Cuisine Italian
Diet Vegan
Keyword 30 Minutes or Less, Aperol, Aperol Margarita, Easy, Happy Hour, Quick, Tequila, Vegan Cocktail
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