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Amazing cuisine, wonderful companionship, and unforgettable beverages. Ever wish a dinner party would go on until the sun came up? It is possible to capitalise on every truly spectacular experience. The digestif enters the picture here. A digestif, as its name suggests, is meant to aid in the process of breaking down those mouthwatering delicacies. It is the opposite of an aperitif, which is a low-alcohol beverage that whets your palate and starts the evening. Relishing an after-dinner digestif straight up or mixed into a cocktail is a soothing way to prolong the evening.
What Is A Digestif?
A digestif is consumed after a meal to help with digestion and help calm the stomach, as the name indicates. Though some have a sweeter, fruitier flavour, these drinks are often more alcoholic than apéritifs and have a herbaceous and/or bitter taste.
Port, amari, sweet sherries, dessert wines, Armagnac and Cognac are typical choices. The Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac are a few popular choices of digestif cocktails that use whisky or bourbon as its foundation.
Digestifs are a classic global beverage, with regional preferences for certain varieties. The most popular alcoholic beverages in France are cognacs, brandies, and various eaux de vie; in Italy, people favour amari and grappa, and in Spain, fortified wines.
Aperitifs Vs. Digestifs
Aperitifs, or drinks taken before meals, are contrasted with digestifs. Apéritifs are normally dry or bitter and intended to stimulate the appetite and wake up the digestive system. Examples of these include Campari, gin, and dry vermouth. A digestif, on the other hand, has a deeper, more soothing flavour profile, is less acidic, and has a higher sugar and alcohol content.
How To Serve Digestifs?
It's customary to sip alcoholic digestifs neat, at room temperature, like an amaro herbal liqueur. 30 or 60 ml is all that is needed for a pour. Typically, a snifter or small cordial glass that highlights the aromatics of the beverage is the recommended glassware. A shot of spirits on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass is a great option for a cold beverage.
If you're throwing a dinner party, think about providing a few alternatives for digestifs and letting your guests pour whatever they like.
Additionally, you can savour a cocktail made with any digestif. Great options for spiked coffee beverages include Italian coffee with Strega or French coffee with cognac and amaretto. Alternatively, you can have coffee sambuca.
While the Manhattan is a traditional digestif, other whiskey-based drinks like the Sazerac, Vieux Carre, and old-fashioned are all excellent options. Try The Marriage of Figaro with Cardamaro, The Emperor with Unicum, or The 20th Century with Amaro Meletti for something a bit different.
Is Coffee A Digestif?
The traditional non-alcoholic digestif is a cup of coffee after dinner. Similar to alcoholic digestifs, coffee's caffeine can help with digestion; however, because it is a stimulant, it is best consumed in moderation later in the evening. Coffee beverages should be rich and brief; cafe con leche or Cuban coffee are great options. Tea is also a good option; share a tea latte with your dinner guests for a filling post-meal beverage.
