Frozen Strawberry- Aperol Cocktail

Combine strawberries, sugar, 1 cup water, and thyme in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat; strain strawberry mixture, reserving cooked strawberries and 2 tablespoons syrup. Discard thyme. Reserve remaining strawberry syrup for another use, if desired.

Combine cooked strawberries, reserved 2 tablespoons strawberry syrup, ice, bourbon, Aperol, and lemon juice in the container of a blender; cover and blend until smooth. Pour strawberry mixture into 2 (1-quart) freezer-safe containers. Freeze for at least 4 hours (mixture will be partially frozen) or overnight.

Place half of strawberry mixture in the container of a blender. (If frozen overnight, thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes; using a fork, break into smaller pieces before adding to blender.) Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape sides of container and stir mixture as needed. Repeat with remaining strawberry mixture. Divide among desired serving glasses.

Garnish with thyme and strawberries, if desired.