Aperol
Italy
At 11% it is a low-strength liqueur, but it is 250 g/L of sugar, so a pour carries about 11g.
- Ingredients / botanicals
- Water, Sugar, Alcohol, Flavourings, Sodium chloride
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- High
- Additives
- Moderate
- Calories
- 71
- Sugar
- 11.1g
3.9g ethanol at 11% ABV. 27 from alcohol, 44 from carbohydrate.
In its favor
- ✓11% alcohol, low for a liqueur
- ✓Usually mixed long with soda and prosecco, which dilutes the pour
What to watch
- !250 g/L of sugar is high for a drink that tastes bitter
- !The bitterness hides the sweetness
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar High ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Moderate ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Aperol tastes bitter and is mostly sugar and water. Vinmonopolet lists 11% alcohol and 250 g/L of sugar, which works out to about 11g in a 1.5oz pour and roughly 71 derived calories.
In a standard spritz the Aperol is only part of the glass, so the sugar total depends on how much prosecco and soda dilute it. The low strength is real; the sugar density is the part the bitter taste conceals.
Aperol questions
How many calories are in a shot of Aperol? ▾
About 71 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 11% ABV. 27 come from the alcohol and 44 from carbohydrate.
Does Aperol have sugar? ▾
Yes, about 11.1g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
What is Aperol made from? ▾
Aperol is made from water, sugar and alcohol with bitter orange and herb extracts. Its botanicals include Water, Sugar, Alcohol, Flavourings, Sodium chloride.
What proof is Aperol? ▾
Aperol is 22 proof, which is 11% alcohol by volume.
Does Aperol give you a bad hangover? ▾
Aperol scores 5/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for liqueur overall. The main drivers are its sugar.