Digestif

Definition:

The nightcap’s sophisticated cousin - the drink that shows up after dinner not just to party, but to politely convince your stomach to keep the peace. Whether it’s a fortified wine, brandy, or herbal liqueur, the digestif’s job is to smooth the landing after a meal that may have gotten a little… ambitious.

Why it Matters:

A digestif isn’t just a fancy excuse to keep drinking, it’s part of the timeless theater of dining. After you’ve demolished your entrée, swirled through dessert, and started wondering if unbuttoning your pants under the table would be noticeable, in swoops the digestif. It’s there to ease digestion, yes, but also to extend the evening in style. Think of it as the final curtain call, giving the meal the encore it deserves.

From brandy to amaro to port, digestifs carry centuries of tradition. In Italy, sipping an amaro after dinner is practically a birthright. In France, brandy or Cognac might be the noble closer. And in modern cocktail culture, digestifs offer bartenders a chance to showcase deep, rich, and herbaceous flavors that don’t belong in the “party starter” category. Instead, these are the slow burners, the reflective sips that say, “Stay a while, let’s talk about life.”