Awaken your appetite with aperitifs
There are a number of ways to amuse your bouche before a meal. The drinks best suited for the task are aperitifs. Referring to aromatized (infused with natural flavors) and fortified (pumped up with the addition of unaged brandy) wines like vermouth and light, crisp, bubbly cocktails, aperitifs open your palate and stimulate appetite.
“An aperitif makes your mouth water and reminds you of food,” said Planter’s House co-owner and bartender Ted Kilgore. Low alcohol content is a characteristic of aperitifs. No one needs to be hammered by the salad course. “It’s important for pacing throughout the meal,” said Brian Hobbs, Bar Les Freres general manager.
Leave the robust red wine and heady Imperial stout for later. Here’s what to sip before you sup:
COCKTAILS
Traditional aperitif wines are both bitter and sweet, so if that’s not your thing, opt for a cocktail that is described as light and fresh. A classic French 75 is boozy but has a citrusy nose and a full, bubbly texture that finishes tart but smooth. Bar Les Freres’ new cocktail, French Horn, First Chair, is also tart, but a touch sweeter with a light berry aroma and effervescent flavor that finishes with citrus. Most light and crisp cocktails containing Champagne or no more than a couple spirits should do the trick, but talk to your bartender if you’re unsure.
AROMATIZED WINES
Vermouth is the top dog in this category, and while its history in the United States as an imported aperitif dates before Prohibition, its resurgence as an aperitif in Midwest watering holes is as recent as 2010. Kilgore recommended asking what kind of vermouth your drinking establishment has on hand and how it is stored, since vermouth oxidizes quickly and should be refrigerated. Look for Punt e Mes, which is slightly herbal with orange notes, and Carpano Antica, which is smooth with dried fruit and orange peel flavors.
Another aperitif wine is Quinquina. Mildly sweet and bitter, this libation has fruity notes and a lingering finish. Try a glass on the rocks or in the The Black Spot at Cleveland-Heath.
