Scarlet Aperol Fizz Cocktail Recipe

If you’re after a sophisticated cocktail recipe for a special occasion, why not give this delicious and complex Scarlet Aperol Fizz a go? Aperol is an aromatic Italian spirit made with bitter orange and rhubarb. It’s hugely popular in Italy, where it’s drunk as an aperitif. A classic Aperol Spritz is a mix of Prosecco, Aperol and soda that Italians love to drink before dinner. 

We’ve taken things one step further with this gorgeous Scarlet Aperol Fizz cocktail. With its deep red colour, frothy foam and sweet and sour flavour, it couldn’t feel more indulgent. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day or Christmas cocktail. 

The Scarlet Aperol fizz swaps Prosecco for rum. It’s a great recipe to learn some easy and versatile cocktail-making skills. To start, you’ll need to make a simple sugar syrup. This is the base of countless cocktails, adding sweetness without any sugar crystals spoiling the drink. To make it, all you need to do is boil sugar and water together in a saucepan. The cooled syrup will keep for a week in the fridge. 

Like many cocktails, this gorgeous drink contains egg whites, which add a light, creamy texture and give the Scarlet fizz a white frothy top which contrasts beautifully with the red drink and gives a professional-looking finish. Why not mix a couple for you and your partner? They’re bound to be impressed. 

To make the sugar syrup:

1. Bring the sugar and water to the boil in a saucepan, stirring constantly, the simmer for around 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved

2. Allow it to cool completely, then store for up to a week in the fridge in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid

To make the cocktail:

1. Shake all the ingredients except the soda water hard with ice cubes

2. Add the soda water and strain in to a martini glass or coupe half full of crushed ice

Taken from World's Best Cocktails by Tom Sandham