Aperol
Aperol is a low-alcohol Italian aperitif , created in 1919 in Padua , northern Italy, by the Fratelli Barbieri company, based in Bassano del Grappa. Classified as a bitter due to its slight bitterness, Aperol is now known worldwide as one of the iconic ingredients of the Spritz cocktail.
The story of Aperol begins in 1912 , when brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri took over the liqueur factory founded by their father, Giuseppe Barbieri . Their ambition was to create an innovative aperitif with a lower alcohol content than competing products of the time. In 1919, the project came to fruition. During a trip to Paris, Silvio Barbieri was inspired by the word "apéro," ubiquitous in French culture. At the same time, his brother Luigi, staying in the mountains, experimented with new recipes using herbs and flowers , giving birth to an original and light liqueur.
The drink was officially launched at the Padua International Fair , among nearly 600 exhibitors, and was an immediate success. The Barbieri brothers quickly understood the importance of advertising and chose the color orange as the distinctive symbol of their creation.
After World War II, Aperol's fame remained primarily regional. It was in Venice, about fifty kilometers from Padua, that bartenders began adding Aperol to the Spritz , mainly for its vibrant color. This combination met with immediate success and helped popularize the drink, eventually eclipsing other bitter aperitifs like Campari or Select .
In 1965, the brand experienced a resurgence thanks to television advertising. On the Italian channel Programma Nazionale, actor Tino Buazzelli portrayed Aperol in a series of humorous sketches, significantly boosting the drink's popularity with the general public.
In 1991, Fratelli Barbieri was acquired by Barbero 1891 , which was itself acquired by the Campari Group in 2003. This latter investment marked a decisive turning point: until then mainly consumed in Italy, Aperol then experienced sustained international expansion .
Aperol is made from a mixture of water, sugar, alcohol and natural flavorings . According to the brand, the original recipe has never been changed since its creation and is based in particular on bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb and gentian .
Starting with local renown, Aperol has now established itself as a global benchmark for aperitifs and an essential part of cocktail culture, a symbol of conviviality and the Italian art of living. Read less
