Discover 10 easy aperitif recipes for an unforgettable dinner. With our refreshing welcome drinks and aperitif ideas, the evening can start perfectly.
All About Aperitifs
An aperitif is an alcoholic drink or a light cocktail served before dinner. Its purpose is to stimulate the appetite and get guests in the mood for the meal to come. Classic aperitifs range from gin to prosecco and bitter liqueurs, offering plenty of room for creativity.
Especially in Romance cultures, such as French or Italian cuisine, the aperitif is an integral part of dining culture. In addition to its flavorful function, it also serves a social one: it shortens the waiting time before serving dishes or bridges the time until all guests have arrived.
Typically, aperitifs are tart or bitter, as these flavors stimulate the appetite. Sweeter variations are also possible but should remain light. It is important that an aperitif does not fill you up – therefore, ingredients like milk or egg are usually avoided, and the drink is matched to the subsequent meal.
The aperitif is often accompanied by small appetizers. Popular choices include nuts, olives, pizza bread, or pickled vegetables, which, as so-called amuse-gueule, round off the enjoyment without diminishing the appetite for dinner.
Incidentally, the word "aperitif" developed in the 19th century in the French language and was later adopted unchanged into German. The actual origin of the term, which comes from the Latin verb "aperire" ("to open"), likely lay in 16th-century medicine.
As for the aperitif itself, there are of course regional preferences and changing fashion trends. In the South of France, for example, Pastis is a popular aperitif, while in Burgundy, Kir is preferred. The firmly established custom of meeting friends for a drink in bars and pubs in the evenings in cities is called "Aperitivo" in Italy, where small snacks are traditionally consumed as well.
In Milan, this custom is said to have first emerged at lunchtime, with the well-known Campari as an aperitif. In Northern Italy, Lombardy, in many Alpine ski resorts, and the bars in Genoa, Turin, Rome, and Naples, the Aperitivo is part of life, while interestingly, it is little known in Southern Italy and on the islands.
The Ten Best Aperitif Recipe Ideas
Discover our favorites for refreshing aperitif recipes, perfect for summer and for an unforgettable dinner. These recipes are not only delicious but also easy and quick to prepare, typically taking no more than ten minutes.
1. Hugo
Our first delicious idea for an aperitif is the popular summer cocktail Hugo, a simple aperitif recipe for a delightful dinner experience, which indeed only takes ten minutes to prepare and combines the distinctive blend of elderflower, mint, and lime.
Ingredients:
- Ice cubes
- 18 cl Elderflower syrup
- 375 ml dry sparkling wine
- 375 ml mineral water
- 2 organic limes
- 4–6 sprigs fresh mint
Perfect Glass:
Balloon glass
Preparation:
Add 2–3 ice cubes to the balloon glass, then 3 cl of elderflower syrup each, and top with 6 cl of sparkling wine and mineral water. Stir gently. Slice the limes thinly and add 2–3 slices with some mint leaves to the glass. Enjoy as an aperitif before dinner.
2. Blackberry Thyme Cocktail
Discover the refreshing Blackberry Thyme Cocktail - a delicious aperitif recipe, especially for summer.
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles dry sparkling wine
- 5–6 tbsp gin
- 4–5 tbsp lemon juice
- 40–50 g brown sugar
- 80 g blackberry jelly
- 12 small thyme sprigs
- 12 frozen blackberries
Champagne flute
Pour lemon juice into a shallow dish, sugar onto a plate. Dip the rim of the glass first in the juice, then in the sugar, and let it dry. Warm the blackberry jelly, stir until smooth, pour into a measuring cup, and stir in the gin. Wash the thyme and shake dry. Divide the blackberry-gin syrup among 12 champagne flutes, add one frozen blackberry to each, top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a thyme sprig.
Pour lemon juice into a shallow dish, sugar onto a plate. Dip the rim of the glass first in the juice, then in the sugar, and let it dry. Warm the blackberry jelly, stir until smooth, pour into a measuring cup, and stir in the gin. Wash the thyme and shake dry. Divide the blackberry-gin syrup among 12 champagne flutes, add one frozen blackberry to each, top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a thyme sprig.
3. Amaretto Sour
No list of the best aperitif recipes is complete without the Amaretto Sour! Here is the recipe for the perfect dinner aperitif.
Amaretto
Martini glass
Halve the oranges, squeeze the juice, and set aside one half for garnish. Squeeze the lemons. Vigorously shake the orange and lemon juice with amaretto and ice cubes in a shaker, pour into martini glasses, fill with ice cubes, and garnish with orange slices.
Halve the oranges, squeeze the juice, and set aside one half for garnish. Squeeze the lemons. Vigorously shake the orange and lemon juice with amaretto and ice cubes in a shaker, pour into martini glasses, fill with ice cubes, and garnish with orange slices.
4. Aperol Grapefruit
If you prefer sweet and sour, the Aperol Grapefruit is perfectly suited as an aperitif for dinner.
Aperol
Tumbler
Halve the limes, squeeze the juice, and set aside one half for thin slices. Stir Aperol, sugar, grapefruit nectar, and lime juice together. Distribute ice cubes among the glasses and pour in the Aperol mix. Cut the lime slices to the middle and place them on the rim of the glass.
5. Pomegranate Iced Tea Sparkling Wine
The delicious super fruit pomegranate also gets a place in our top 10 best aperitifs for dinner.
sparkling wine
Champagne flute
Halve the pomegranate, remove the seeds, and distribute among ten champagne flutes. Add chilled iced tea and top with sparkling wine.
6. Cardamom Bramble
You've probably noticed: Our list of aperitif recipes for the perfect dinner is full of exciting, unusual ingredient combinations. The Cardamom Bramble fits perfectly here!
For the Cardamom Syrup:
- 50 g sugar
- 50 ml water
- 3 cardamom pods
- Ice cubes
Perfect Glass:
Tumbler
7. Grenadine Champagne Cocktail with Hibiscus Flower
With this aperitif recipe, you'll surely impress your dinner guests - because as extraordinary as the Grenadine Champagne Cocktail looks, it tastes fantastic.
grenadine
Champagne flutes
Divide hibiscus flowers and grenadine among 8 champagne flutes and top with sparkling wine using a spoon as desired.
8. Apricot Bellini
A classic that absolutely cannot be missing from the most delicious aperitifs for the perfect dinner is the Bellini. In our case, the Bellini recipe with apricots.
Champagne
Champagne glass
Chill champagne glasses in the freezer for about an hour. Peel and roughly chop the ginger, pit the apricots, and purée them with the ginger. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve, divide among the glasses, fill with ice-cold champagne, and stir once briefly.
9. Lillet Americano
Ingredients:
- 12 cl Lillet Rosé
- 12 cl sweet vermouth
- 4 cl ginger beer
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon
- ice cubes
Perfect glass:
Wine glass
Preparation:
Stir Lillet and vermouth with ice cubes in a large mixing glass for about 20 seconds, strain into glasses, and top with ginger beer. Cut two slices each of orange and lemon, squeeze them over the glasses, and add one slice of each to the cocktail.
10. Iced coffee with tonic
To conclude our top 10 delicious aperitif recipe ideas, here is a non-alcoholic aperitif recipe, because as an attentive host, you will naturally also think of guests who may not want to drink alcohol.
Ingredients:
- 200–250 ml Tonic Water
- 80–100 ml strong, cold coffee
- 2 organic lemons
- 2 sprigs of mint
- ice cubes
Perfect glass:
Tumbler
Preparation:
Peel two thin lemon spirals from the washed lemons, hang them in the glasses and fill the glasses halfway with ice cubes. Pour in tonic water, add 40-50 ml of coffee to each, and garnish with mint.
10 Aperitif Recipes - Many Happy Dinner Guests
With these aperitif recipe ideas, dinner is saved, and you can impress with exceptional welcome drinks as well as delicious classic aperitifs for summer. If you still need bar accessories or bar glasses, you will find them with us. Have fun trying them out!
FAQ – Questions and Answers
What is an aperitif and what is it served for?
An aperitif is a drink served before a meal. It is meant to stimulate appetite, lighten the mood, and stylishly open the evening. Typical aperitifs include Prosecco, Aperol Spritz, Champagne, or non-alcoholic alternatives.
Which aperitifs are ideal in summer and which in winter?
Summer Aperitifs: Hugo, Aperol Spritz or Rosé Prosecco. Winter Aperitifs: Negroni, Vermouth or Port wine. This way, the aperitif ideas always match the season and perfectly round off dinner.
How much aperitif should you plan per person?
As a rule of thumb, one glass of aperitif per guest is sufficient. This stimulates the appetite without filling you up. For receptions or longer dinner evenings, two small glasses can also be planned.
Where can I buy aperitifs and spirits online?
If you want to conveniently order aperitifs, you will find a large selection at delicando: from classics like Aperol and Prosecco to exclusive aperitif ideas and non-alcoholic alternatives. Everything is delivered directly to your home – ideal for your next dinner with guests.
Which aperitif goes best with a dinner with guests?
That depends on the menu: Light starters: dry Prosecco or Hugo. Fish & Seafood: Champagne or Lillet Wild Berry. Hearty main courses: Aperol Spritz or Negroni. This way you'll find the perfect aperitif for your dinner – light, sparkling, or spicy.
Which non-alcoholic aperitif recipes are popular?
Non-alcoholic aperitifs are in high demand and offer many ideas: non-alcoholic sparkling wine, Virgin Spritz, or bitter drinks like Sanbittèr. These drinks look festive, taste fresh, and are perfect alternatives for guests who don't drink alcohol.
