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Aperitif Anyone?
We often see whiskies promoted as an aperitif or a digestif, but how does one go about deciding which is which, and does it really matter? To research this phenomenon (I just love conducting research on whisky), I descended into the inner sanctums of my whisky library (with dram in hand) to seek out some answers.
Sure enough, several books claim that certain whiskies are good as either an aperitif or digestif – without reference to why.
According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, ‘aperitif’ is a French term meaning ‘an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.’ A ‘digestif’ is also a French term for “something which promotes good digestion, especially a drink taken after a meal, e.g., a liqueur or brandy.’
Why haven’t similar words been created in the English language? Are the French the only ones that drink before or after a meal?
Traditional aperitifs are usually wine or spirit based and are relatively dry compared to digestifs. The most obvious difference between the two is the level of sweetness. Too much sugar in an aperitif can ruin an appetite,.....
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By Dominic Roskrow
Section : Letters to the Editor
Page number : 14
