Campari vs Aperol: what’s the difference between these Italian liqueurs? Here’s what you need to know about these popular aperitivos.
Campari vs Aperol: what’s the difference between these two liqueurs? They’re both Italian bitters, also called aperitivos, which are liqueurs served before a meal. They each have a beautiful bright color and are products of the same Italian company.
So what’s the difference? As a home mixology expert, I can’t count the number of times I’ve used Campari and Aperol in cocktails! Here’s what to know about the difference between these popular spirits.
Campari Vs Aperol: An Overview
Campari and Aperol are Italian bitter liquors with several key differences. Here’s a breakdown:
What Is Campari?
- Origin: Campari was invented in Italy in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novara, Italy. Because it’s got such a long history, it’s a featured ingredient in classic cocktails like the Negroni.
- Color: Campari is bright red in color. Fun fact: The bright red color of Campari originally came from a dye made of crushed insects! That’s no longer in the modern recipe, so it shouldn’t deter you from grabbing a bottle.
- Flavor: Campari tastes very bitter, with sweet notes like cherry, clove, cinnamon and orange peel.
- Alcohol content: Campari is 48 proof or 24% ABV, over twice that of Aperol.
What Is Aperol?
- Origin: Aperol was also invented in Italy, but much later in 1919. Brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri created this aperitif in Padua, Italy. The company that sells Campari, Gruppo Campari, acquired Aperol’s maker (Barbero 1891) in 2003.
- Color: Aperol is a bright orange color: it’s very distinct from Campari.
- Flavor: The flavor of Aperol is sweeter and more balanced than Campari, with notes of citrus and herbs.
- Alcohol content: Aperol has a lower alcohol content than Campari: it is 22 proof or 11% ABV.
Can You Substitute Campari For Aperol, Or Vice Versa?
You can substitute one for the other in a pinch, but their flavors are very different:
- Campari in place of Aperol: Campari is more than twice as strong as Aperol, and much more bitter flavored. If you use it in an Aperol Spritz, you’ll get a Campari Spritz, which is way more bitter. I would recommend using a little less Campari and add a splash of simple syrup or orange juice to soften the flavors.
- Aperol in place of Campari: You can use Aperol in a Negroni for a sweeter, lower-alcohol version. It’s great for people who find Negroni’s a little too intense (like me!).
Read more in my post about Best Substitutes For Campari.
Popular Campari and Aperol Cocktails
Which famous cocktails use Campari vs Aperol? Because Campari has a longer history, it’s got a longer list. Here are the most popular Campari cocktails and Aperol cocktails:
Popular Campari Cocktails
- Americano The oldest Campari cocktail, the Americano comes from a bar called Caffe Campari in Milan, Italy in the 1860s.
- Classic Negroni The most famous Campari cocktail is the Negroni, invented in the 1920s by Count Negroni in Florence, Italy.
- Boulevardier A 1920s classic cocktail, the Boulevardier is a variation on the Negroni that swaps gin for whiskey.
- Old Pal Another 1920s cocktail, the Old Pal takes the Boulevardier and swaps sweet vermouth for dry vermouth.
- Negroni Sbagliato A modern spin from 1980s in Milan, the Sbagliato swaps gin for bubbly Prosecco.
- Jungle Bird The Jungle Bird is a modern tropical cocktail starring rum, pineapple juice, and Campari.
Popular Aperol Cocktails
- Aperol Spritz The most popular Aperol cocktail is the spritz! It took its current form in the 1950s and has been popular ever since.
- Paper Plane This modern classic cocktail invented in 2007 features the unique combination of Aperol and bourbon.
- Naked and Famous This modern classic balances smoky, citrus, bitter and sweet.
Last updated: February 2021
