Just what your thirst needs

IF CLIMATE change has you in a sweat this scorching summer, cool down with an Aperol. It’s a bright-orange aperitif with a bittersweet aftertaste (and a decent 11-per-cent alcohol content) that’s refreshing enough to keep the heat at bay.
Italasia Trading (Thailand), importer of |top premium spirits from Italy, recently |hosted a launch event for Aperol, which is a |bitter classed as a light aperitif. The distilled spirit is infused with hundreds of spices and herbs to yield a heady, citrusy guzzle with a slightly sweet palate and a pleasantly tangy |finish.
And you can assure your doctor and loved ones that it has medicinal benefits, too – it kills bacteria in the mouth, which has the added plus of making food taste better!
The slightly sweet taste and bitter finish |are ideal for quenching the thirst and re-|freshing the senses, so we’re a bit miffed |that the Italians have been keeping Aperol pretty much to themselves for more than a |century.
But it’s here now, at least, and mixologist Niks Anuman-rajadhon was at the launch to demonstrate its flexibility. First he whipped up an Aperol Spritz, which is apparently widely known across Europe and in beach towns all over the world – though not in Thailand until now.
For the Spritz you need a thin slice of orange in the bottom of a highball glass, over which is poured two parts Aperol and three parts Prosecco. Then you lightly “agitate” the orange with a straw to get that citrus pungency out, further enhancing the citrus tone in the Aperol. Top up with cube ices and a splash of soda for the fizz.
The Aperol Gelato Spritz is just as easy to make and seemingly invented solely for summer. Splash a scoop of your favourite fruit sorbet with Aperol, garnish with dried fruit, a cinnamon stick, chocolate, jelly, mint or whatever, and then toss in Prosecco. As the sorbet slowly melts, you experience the different flavours in layers.
Niks explained that the ice cream does |the job of ice, only with, you know, flavours. And you can use as much Aperol as you like as long as there’s room left for those crazy garnishes.
Any party can be truly set in motion with a bowl of Aperol Punch, which is lime juice, simple syrup and a generous helping of Aperol, garnished with cinnamon, cloves, mint or basil leaves and dried or fresh fruit. Stir well and hands off until the ingredients mingle. Taste before serving and adjust as necessary. Dish it out in ice-filled glasses and slash in a little Prosecco.
And, presto, party in motion!