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Nothing helps you shake off the winter blues like a good cocktail. We’ve got a spring gin cocktail that captures the season in a celebratory, electric orange burst of color and flavor. And since spring is a season of fertility, we’re hoping this gin Aperol cocktail will be your new springtime aphrodisiac drink.

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What is in this spring gin cocktail?

Called A Hare Above the Rest, this fun, seasonal cocktail is a fairly simple blend of gin with Aperol and citrus juices. The cocktail was invented by an American distillery in San Francisco to showcase its premium gin and approved by our test kitchen. (More on Distillery No 209 later.) Of course, you can use your favorite gin to make this mixed drink.

What is Aperol?

In addition to handcrafted gin, this easy spring cocktail recipe showcases Aperol, the Italian spirit that’s really having a moment. (Perhaps you’ve seen all the Instagram photos of sunset-orange cocktails called Aperol Spritz? That’s the Aperol that gives the drink its signature pre-dusk glow.)

It’s a spirit similar in sweetness level to Campari. But, although like Campari it’s flavored with bitter orange, this spirit delivers orange flavor without Campari’s bite. And as a flavoring for spring cocktails, its cheering orange glow and sweet kiss are pretty irresistible.

Freshly squeezed juices

The real secret to making this gin and Aperol cocktail sing is using freshly squeezed juices. But unlike many gin cocktails which call for grapefruit juice, this uniquely delicious recipe calls for both fresh lemon juice and blood orange juice.

Despite the gruesome name, blood orange is one of the sweetest and tastiest citrus fruits. It gets its name from the color of its flesh, which can range from pink to a deep, dark, blood red. Grown primarily in California and Florida, these fruits have a deliciously complex, sweet flavor with a hint of raspberry.

As with the lemon juice in this spring gin drink, the blood orange juice should be freshly squeezed for the best cocktail. The sweet, citrus tang of the fresh fruit juices blends deliciously with the bite of the gin and the zesty, slightly herbal flavor of Aperol.

And don’t forget that citrus fruits make our list of the 10 Best Foods for Women’s Sexual Health. So, of course, we can’t help but recommend this springtime gin cocktail as a drink to romance a woman!

About San Francisco Distillery No 209

This flirty spring cocktail features a gin from an interesting, American distillery, Distillery No 209. This northern California distillery is built over water on San Francisco’s Pier 50. They use the cold waters of the bay beneath them as natural air conditioning year-round.

No 209 gin is a truly handcrafted product made from Midwestern corn and snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The result is a distinctly American, premium gin. It is made with a blend of 11 botanicals and is specifically made to be blended into gin cocktails. I think it works beautifully in this springtime cocktail. But with all of our cocktail recipes, if you have a different dry gin preference, use your favorite brand to make this the best spring cocktail for you.

Try Next: Check out the Aperol Paloma Spritz

orange cocktail in Champagne coupe with a lemon wedge garnish with a bottle of gin in the background

A Hare Above the Rest Gin Aperol Cocktail

Print Recipe

This easy gin and aperol cocktail recipe might be your best bet for a romantic evening of springtime romance. Made with two kinds of fresh citrus, this four-ingredient cocktail is one you're going to love!

Course aperitif

Cuisine American

Dish Type Cocktail

Cooking Style Mixology

Seasonal Easter, Mother's Day, spring

Ingredient Aperol, gin

Prep Time 5

Servings cocktail

Ingredients

1.5 oz Distillery No 209 Gin or your favorite premium brand of gin
1 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
1/2 oz Aperol
1/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker then shake.
Fine strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with orange zest, (optional).

Author
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Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide. She is also a Certified Nutrition Coach awarded by the International Sports Sciences Association and she is a California Certified Massage Therapist.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.

A Spring Gin Cocktail Recipe Made with Aperol and Love