What are some appetizer cocktails?

Aperitif, also known as pre-dinner wine, is meant to stimulate appetite before a meal. Aperitif is mainly made from wine or distilled spirits with plant roots, stems, leaves, medicinal herbs, etc. Aperitifs originated in Western countries, especially Italy and France, where they are taken very seriously and are served at family gatherings. Now, aperitifs are also served at some large gatherings in my country. So, what are some appetizer cocktails?

There are many types of wine suitable for aperitifs. Most traditional aperitifs are vermouth, bitters, and aniseed wine. Most of these wines are added with spices or some plant ingredients to increase the flavor of the wine. Most modern aperitifs are blended wines, using wine or spirits as a base, with the addition of infusions of plant materials or adding these materials during distillation.

【Chinese name】：Aperitif

【English Name】：Appetizer Cocktail

[Ingredients]: 1/2 spicy gin, 1/4 diopignan, 1/4 orange juice

[Preparation]: (1) Pour all ingredients into a shaker and shake; (2) Pour the shaken wine into a cocktail glass.

[Detailed explanation]: As the name literally means, aperitif is wine that is drunk before a meal to increase appetite. The French translation of the wine name into English is Appetizer. As everyone knows, this drink is a cocktail drunk before dinner.

Diupignane is a French wine-based aperitif with quinine added. Because quinine is added to this wine, the added orange juice has a strong sour taste, making the wine more delicious to drink.

Vermouth is made from wine as the base wine, with plants, medicinal herbs and other substances added. The alcohol content is around 18°. The best products come from France and Italy. Almost all the vermouth used in bars is produced in these two countries. Vermouth is divided into sweet, dry and special types, mainly based on the amount of sugar in the wine. In terms of color, there are two types: white and red. Usually dry means containing little or no sugar. Sweet means containing more sugar. Usually the color of dry vermouth is colorless and transparent or light yellow, while the color of sweet vermouth is red or rose red.

Bitters are also called Bites. It is made by adding plant roots and medicinal materials to wine or certain distilled spirits. The alcohol content is between 18 and 45 degrees. The taste is bitter. Commonly used brands are:

Campari is bright red in color, has an alcohol content of 26%, and is produced in Italy.

Dubonnet is dark red in color, with an alcohol content of 18% and a bitter taste with a hint of sweetness.

Fernet Branca, 45% alcohol, made in Italy.

Sinal, alcohol content 18%, made in Italy.

Anderburg, deep red, 49% alcohol, made in Germany. It is a strong liquor made from a variety of medicinal herbs and has the effect of sobering up. Usually packaged in 5.6 ml vials.

Angostura, a brown-red color with an alcohol content of 44%, is produced in Trinidad in Central America and packaged in 140 ml small bottles. It is a very special bitter wine. It is commonly used in cocktails, but it is very irritating and slightly toxic. Drinking too much can be harmful to human health.

In any case, aperitifs are now an indispensable part of social activities and family life. If you invite people to dinner but don’t have an aperitif, it would be very impolite and unbelievable. When we want to thank others for their help, we can offer them an aperitif so we don’t have to worry about not being hospitable enough.