Contessa Recipe

By
Paul Clarke
Paul Clarke
Paul Clarke blogs about cocktails at The Cocktail Chronicles and writes regularly on spirits and cocktails for Imbibe magazine. He lives in Seattle, where he works as a writer and magazine editor.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated March 28, 2025
20110118strainerprimary.jpg
Jessica Leibowitz

Mojitos and mint juleps are wonderful warm-weather drinks. But sometimes a late-spring or early-summer day requires a drink with a bit of an edge, a spark bright enough to match the waning light of a late sunset.

The Contessa has such an edge, and a flavor that to me is particularly seasonal. Created several years ago by bartenders in Boston, the Contessa is a slight tweak on the classic Negroni, substituting the bright bitter-orange flavor of the Italian aperitivo Aperol for the deeper, more assertive bitterness of the garnet Campari.

With a pleasantly bitter bite and the color of a sunset, Aperol makes the Contessa an excellent aperitif--or simply a refreshing cooler for an early summer weekend.

Recipe Details

Contessa Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 serving
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce gin (Beefeater is recommended)

  • 1 ounce Aperol

  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth (Cinzano is recommended)

Directions

  1. The Contessa is comfortable in two variations: for the first, simply combine the ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice; stir well for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. For the second variation, stir with ice as above and strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Either way, be sure to twist a piece of orange peel over the drink and use as garnish.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
180 Calories
0g Fat
14g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 180
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 28mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes