Guides and tasting notes

What Is an Aperitif? Types, Examples and How to Drink Them

An aperitif is the drink that opens the evening. Here are the main families, from quinquina and gentian to bitter red aperitivo and fruit wines, with easy serves and bottles to start with.

Bitters Explained: Cocktail Bitters, Bitter Liqueurs and Amaro

"Bitters" means two different things: dash bottles used a few drops at a time, and bitter liqueurs poured by the glass. This guide sorts them out, then walks through cocktail bitters, the Italian bitter rosso, amaro, fernet and the Australian makers, with a bottle for each.