Ingredients
- 2.5 oz Bourbon Whiskey
- .75 oz Aperol
- 1 tsp Sugar Syrup
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- In a mixing glass, add 2.5 oz of bourbon whiskey, .75 oz of Aperol, and 1 tsp of simple syrup.
Stir:
- Add ice to the mixing glass and stir for 10-15 seconds until well chilled.
Strain and Serve:
- Strain the mixture into a chilled rocks glass over a large whiskey ice block.
Garnish:
- Garnish with a twist of grapefruit zest for an aromatic finish.
Video
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Modern bartender invention from the 2010s. The Airedale is named after the breed of dog and the dale in Yorkshire. The drink itself is a Boulevardier with the Campari swapped for Aperol, which lightens the bitter and lifts the orange.
It is a stirred-down cocktail intended for sipping rather than sessioning. Aperitivo before dinner, digestif after, equally at home in either spot.
What it tastes like
Bourbon vanilla on the lead, bittersweet orange Aperol on the mid, a faint herbal back note. The sugar syrup is subtle and rounds the whole thing out without making it sweet.
Quality bourbon shows here because the cocktail is short and stirred. Cheaper bourbon will read rough.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The bourbon
- Use
- Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare or Maker Mark
- Why
- Mid-range bourbon shines in stirred cocktails
The Aperol
- Use
- Standard Aperol
- Skip
- Campari, swaps the drink to a Boulevardier
The sugar
- Use
- Demerara syrup, 5 ml
- Why
- Demerara has more body than plain sugar syrup
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Rye whiskey works. Drink shifts spicier.
Cocchi Americano or Lillet Rose. Drink loses orange but stays balanced.
Add 15 ml of sweet vermouth. Now it is closer to a true Boulevardier.
Skip it. The Aperol provides enough sweetness.
Top with soda water for a Bourbon Spritz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
How is it different from a Boulevardier?
How strong is it?
Garnish?
Glass?
Why is it called Airedale?
