Both Aperol and Campari are alcoholic drinks, but Aperol has a slightly lesser content of alcohol when compared to Campari.
Campari is suitable for people who want an intense drink, whereas Aperol is best suited for those who prefer light and mild alcoholic beverages. Mostly both cocktails are interchangeable.
Key Takeaways
- Aperol has a lower alcohol content (11%) than Campari (20-28%).
- Aperol features a sweeter, more citrus-forward flavor, while Campari has a more bitter, herbal taste.
- Campari appears as a darker red hue, while Aperol is bright orange.
Aperol vs Campari
Aperol is a bitter orange liqueur with a lower alcohol content than Campari, it was originally created in 1919 and is made with a secret blend of herbs and spices. Campari is a bright red bitter liqueur made with a secret blend of herbs and spices and was created in 1860 by Gaspare Campari.
Aperol, originating from the Italian city of Padua, is a slightly orange-coloured alcoholic drink with an alcohol percentage ranging from 11-15%.
It is sweeter as compared to Campari due to its lesser alcohol content. Aperol has gained popularity in drinks like Prosecco and Aperol Spritz.taly.
The word “Aperol” gets its name from the French word apéritif, apéro.
Campari, on the other hand, is a bright red or crimson red coloured alcoholic beverage, which has an alcohol percentage ranging from 20.5-28.5 %.
It is slightly bitter in taste due to the higher alcohol content. Campari is very much popular in the cocktails like Americano, Negroni, and Garibaldi.
Comparison Table
| Parameters Of Comparison | Aperol | Campari |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Aperol makes it’s origin in the year 1919, in Italy, when two Barbieri brothers Luigi and Silvio, created it. | Campari was created 59 years prior to when Apeol was made by Gaspare Campari in the year. |
| Colour | Aperol is slightly lighter in color compared to Campari. It has a reddish-orange hue. | Campari has a slightly darker color compared to Aperol. Campari is of radiant, bright red color. |
| Alcohol by Volume (ABV) | The alcohol volume is lesser in Aperol in comparison to Campari. | The alcohol Volume is more in Campari in comparison to Aperol. |
| Sweetness | Aperol is sweeter than Campari due to its lesser alcohol percentage. It ranges from 11-15%. | Campari is less sweet than Aperol due to more alcohol percentage. It is slightly bitter in taste. It ranges from 20.5%-28.5%. |
| Origin | Aperol was created by the two Barbieri brothers, Luigi and Silvio, in the year 1919 in the Italian city of Padua. | Campari was the invention of Gaspare Campari, 59 years prior to the invention of Aperol in Milan. |
| Usage | It is mainly used in Aperol Spritz. | It is used in Negroni and Americano. |
What is Aperol?
Aperol was invented when the two Barbieri brothers wanted to make a drink with low alcohol content. After years of thinking and research, they came out with this Aperol in 1919 in Italy.
The word “Aperol” gets its name from the French word apéritif, apéro. However, Aperol did not gain popularity until 1950, before the invention of Aperol Spritz. This dink has a great link with the Northeastern culture of Italy.
The sweet and orangish drink is very famous as a pre-dinner drink all over Italy. This drink took time to gain its popularity in the United States.
It was not until 2010 that the drink became people’s choice as they started preferring beverages with low alcohol content.
Prosecco is a good Aperol drink for relaxation purposes. The recipe for Prosecco is given below.
Ingredients:-
· Prosecco- 3 ounces
· Aperol – 2 ounces
· Club soda– 1 ounce
· Orange slice( garnishing) – 1
Recipe:-
1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add Prosecco to the wine glass.
3. Then add Aperol and club soda.
4. Stir and mix well.
5. Use the orange slice to garnish it.
What is Campari?
Gaspare Campari invented Campari in Novara, Italy. It is made with a mixture of herbs and fruits like chinotto and cascarilla.
Previously Carmine dye which was derived from crushed cochineal insects, was used to get the distinctive red color, but it was discontinued from the year 2006.
Campari is used in a wide range of cocktails. It is also sometimes served with citrus juice or soda water. Campari is also sold in the Italian markets mixed in soda bottles known as Campari Soda.
Campari is considered to be the star ingredient in cocktails like Garibaldi, Americano, and Negroni.
Below given is the recipe for the famous Campari cocktail, Negroni.
Ingredients:-
· Gin- 1 ounce
· Campari- 1 ounce
· Sweet Vermouth- 1 ounce
· Orange peel (garnishing)
Recipe:-
1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add the gin, Campari and sweet Vermouth.
3. Stir the components until well chilled.
4. Fill a rock glass with large ice cubes.
5. Strain the components of the mixing glass into the rock glass.
6. Use an orange peel for garnishing.
Main Differences Between Aperol and Campari
- Aperol originated in 1919 in Italy when two Barbieri brothers, Luigi and Silvio, created it. Campari was created 59 years prior to this by Gaspare Campari.
- Aperol has a lighter alcohol content and is lighter in color, a reddish-orange hue, whereas Campari has a higher percentage of alcohol and has a radiant, bright red color.
- Aperol is much sweeter compared to Campari.
- Aperol has an alcohol percentage ranging from 11-15%, and Campari has a percentage ranging from 20.5-28.5%.
- Aperol is used in Aperol Spritz and Prosecco, while Campari is popular in Americano and Negroni.
- Aperol originated from the Italian City of Padua, whereas Campari originated from Milan.
- https://run.unl.pt/bitstream/10362/51780/1/Tarulli_2019.pdf
- https://www.redalyc.org/journal/6002/600263428003/600263428003.pdf
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
I never knew Aperol was linked to the French word apéritif. It’s incredible to learn how historical and cultural factors influence the names and popularity of drinks. Thanks for the insightful comparison.
Who would have thought that the difference between the two drinks is so extensive? Definitely learned something new today. Great article!
This is a well-detailed comparison. It’s clear and concise. I will try Aperol, I am not a fan of strong alcoholic beverages.
What a great and comprehensive overview. Does anyone have any idea where to purchase Aperol? I’d love to give it a try.
I believe that any well-stocked liquor store should carry Aperol. It’s quite popular, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find.
It’s surprising to see how different these drinks are despite some similarities. That’s a testament to how complex the flavor profiles of these drinks are. This is a great introduction to both Aperol and Campari.
It’s interesting to see how these drinks compare. It seems like you could use Aperol in drinks that use Campari if you prefer something a little lighter.
It’s fascinating how the alcohol content changes the flavor and intensity of these two drinks. I wonder what else this could be applied to.
Yeah, I agree. It’s like you get a similar flavor with a less intense drink. I’m not sure if I could tell the difference between the two in a cocktail.