What’s the Difference Between an Aperitif vs Digestif?
There are many things the modern world can thank the French for: Cinema. The hot air balloon. The metric system. However, ask any French person what their country’s greatest contribution to the world has been, and they will have a simple answer: “Cuisine”. Yes, food and drink are at the heart of French identity and the stomach of much of the rest of the world. From bread and cheese to wine and brandy, France’s culinary delights and kitchen table traditions come in many forms, two of which are the traditions of aperitif and digestif. Now, you’ll probably have heard of these words before. You may have even partaken in a little drink before and after a restaurant visit or during a sit-down meal at a function or gala. But if you’ve ever wondered, “Wait, what is an aperitif vs. digestif?” you’re not alone. The difference between aperitif and digestif drinks is surprisingly simple: Aperitifs are your pre-dinner drinks, enjoyed before a meal to open the palate, while Digestifs are your after-dinner sippers, served post-meal to settle the stomach and wind things down.
If the English-speaking world had invented such a fabulous way of feasting, we probably would have named it pre-drinks and post-drinks, but the French got there first (or at the very least got the credit for it), so they got to name it. In essence, an aperitif gets your evening rolling and a digestif winds it down.
Aperitifs are typically served in the hour before dinner. Digestifs, on the other hand, only appear after the main course, dessert, and even the espresso have left the stage. If someone brings you a digestif before the starters have arrived, they either need to read this article or they know the food being prepared is more punishment than pleasure. Let’s break down aperitif vs digestif properly.
What is an Aperitif?
Let’s start with the aperitif meaning. The word aperitif comes from the Latin aperire, meaning “to open.” And that’s exactly its job: to open up the palate and prepare your stomach for what’s to come. When someone wonders “what is an aperitif?” the simplest answer is this: it’s a light, refreshing pre-meal drink designed to wake up your taste buds, not overpower them.
A great aperitif is:
• Lower in ABV compared to heavier liqueurs
• Can be carbonated (champagne or a spritz are very popular aperitifs)
• Bright, light, sometimes citrusy, and designed as a gentle palate cleanser
These drinks are essentially the warm-up act for your evening. They don’t steal the spotlight but they do set the tone.
Foods that love aperitifs: anything salty, light, and snackable. Cured meats, cheeses, olives, crudo, oysters. An aperitif and digestif may belong to opposite ends of the meal, but both are part of the meal. So, don’t be afraid to pair a little hors d’oeuvres with your aperitif if the opportunity arises.
What is a Digestif?
A digestif is the final shot in a Western. It’s a cowboy slowly marching his horse over the horizon. It’s the love interests’ kiss at sunset. These after-dinner drinks are typically richer, more intense, and often made to aid digestion after a hearty meal. They’re spirit-forward, comforting, and intentionally sipped slowly while the credits roll. A perfect way to say “The End”… well, the end of the meal anyway. What you do after that is up to you.
Digestifs can include:
• Whiskey
• Dark rum
• Brandy
• Herbal liqueurs
• Fortified wines
• Spirit-forward digestif cocktails
If someone ever asks whether a certain drink is a digestif or aperitif, think about flavour and function. Light and refreshing? Probably an aperitif. Bold and warming? Likely a digestif. And if you’re not sure, check the bottle. There are many drinks which specifically cater to this tradition and will describe themselves as one or the other.
Aperitif Cocktails
Nothing makes the aperitif vs digestif examples clearer than real drinks. Aperitif cocktails are fresh, bright, and generally unfussy fun. They’re here for a good time, to get the party started, and be something everyone can enjoy.
A modern aperitif will often include:
• A carbonated element
• Citrus or sweetness
• Lower ABV spirits or liquors
• A refreshing, enlivening flavour profile
Below are some ideal aperitif vs digestif cocktails comparisons with these sitting firmly on the aperitif side:
Jameson, Ginger & Lime
Now, we would never dream of restricting anyone to having a Jameson, Ginger & Lime as exclusively an aperitif; however, it has all the makings of a gold standard of pre-dinner drinks. Simple, crisp, and featuring a hallmark aperitif characteristic: carbonation. Ginger ale brings lightness and a bit of zip (the technical term for some spice), lime brings citrus brightness, and the overall result is a perfect before-meal appetite starter.
Classic Whiskey Sour
A balanced and citrus-led Whiskey Sour can be the perfect aperitif. While it’s certainly flavourful, and although it’s on the heavier side, as a drink, it’s not heavy, making it ideal as an aperitif rather than a digestif. The lemon works beautifully as a palate cleanser.
Jameson Buck
A bubbly, gingery, refreshing cocktail that ticks every aperitif box. Lower ABV than digestif drinks, citrusy, and sparkling. The Jameson Buck is as pre-dinner as it gets.
Digestif Cocktails
If aperitif cocktails open the show, digestif cocktails take a bow at the end. They’re richer, deeper, and designed for sipping slowly. These drinks are ideal post-meal, whether you’re relaxing after dinner with friends or just taking a moment to enjoy something flavourful and warming.
Here are classic, spirit-forward digestif cocktail examples:
Irish Coffee
Hot, comforting, and deeply aromatic. An Irish Coffee perfect after-dinner nightcap and one of the most iconic digestif drinks. Coffee, whiskey, and cream are the makings of a digestif that everyone can get behind.
Irish Espresso Martini
The Irish Espresso Martini is bold, it’s rich, it’s sophisticated. It’s coffee, but cooler (literally). The coffee element makes it popular for post-meal enjoyment, and its spirit-forward nature gives it that digestif feel.
Old Fashioned
An absolute timeless digestif cocktail, and an after-meal favourite of advertising expert, Don Draper. The Old Fashioned’s whiskey-forward profile makes it a slow sipper, and the perfect post-script paragraph to the letter of a long meal.
Aperitif vs Digestif: A Quick Recap
If you ever forget the difference, just remember:
• Aperitif = before a meal, light, refreshing, sparkling, citrus-forward
• Digestif = after dinner, rich, spirit-forward, often herbal or whiskey-led
Or, as a memory trick:
Aperitifs open. Digestifs digest.
Simple.
So, whether someone asks for an apertif vs digestif comparison (yes, we’re even covering the common misspelling), or wants help deciding which drink belongs where, you now have the full picture of how these beverages bookend a meal.
Ready to put these traditions into practice?
Explore the full range of Jameson Whiskey cocktails to find your new favourite pre-dinner aperitif or post-meal digestif and elevate your evenings one beautifully balanced drink at a time.