As two cornerstones of European drinking culture, apéritifs and digestifs have long enhanced the dining experience. While the finer details of these drinks might remain a mystery to many Americans, they hold a great deal of social significance in many nations, particularly France and Italy, where they’re known as aperitivos and digestivos.
Many of the beverages that fit into these categories will be familiar to all, however, with popular apéritifs and digestifs including vermouths, amari, sherry, and herbal liqueurs and spirits.
An apéritif is an alcoholic beverage that is made to stimulate the appetite and prepare your palate for the meal to come. They are typically low in alcohol and tend to be dry tasting with the occasional hint of sweetness.
A digestif is served after the meal to aid with digestion and help settle the stomach. These beverages are generally higher in alcohol than apéritifs and tend to have an herbaceous and/or bitter profile, though some have a sweeter, fruitier flavor.
