What is an "aperitif"?

Aperitif / spritz / pre-dinner drink

Aperitif:

Firstly, we're always referring to Everleaf as “non-alcoholic aperitifs”. We don’t use the term “non-alcoholic spirit”. Even if we were alcoholic, we’d be considered an aperitif rather than a spirit. Everleaf isn’t solely the product of distillation (some ingredients are, but others are macerated, infused, some steam distilled, fermented and whatever else gets the best from the plants), and just like other aperitifs, we’re slightly sweetened (though less than most alcoholic ones) and have a bitter component.

But what is an aperitif?

The word itself is French, coming from the Latin aperire - to open - in this case as a drink to open or prepare the palate before a meal. It is used for a wide variety of drinks, from vermouths through to complex cocktails, that stimulate and get you ready for dinner. The term can be used for any pre-meal drink, but they all commonly contain bitter or herbal flavours. Aperitifs get your evening started!

As such, they play an important social role, marking that time between the end of work and the more formal occasion of dinner. They’re the perfect tipple to start something with, so they tend not to be too strong or too filling – they’re there to relax the mind and build up the anticipation of what’s to come.

Spritz

So how does that bring us on to the Spritz? Well over the last few years, the Spritz has become synonymous with that aperitif moment. It has all the characteristics needed – bitterness, complexity and sweetness, with the added exuberance of bubbles. A serious drink in a playful mood!

The name comes from the German spritzen, to spray, referring to a splash of sparkling water sprayed into wine to dilute it. Austrian soldiers posted to Veneto in the 19^th century found the wines much stronger than the beer they were used to drinking, so asked for it “spritzed” in this way. Really any drink with a splash of bubbles could be regarded to be a spritz – from the white wine spritzer to the now-ubiquitous Aperol Spritz.

For us, it means something bittersweet, complex, delicious and bubbly – with or without alcohol. We give you the first three in each expression of Everleaf, you pick the bubbles to mix it with!

Here are three recipes to get you started, but here we have an array of cocktail recipes to ensure that your aperitif moment is NEVER boring. 

1. Marine & soda water with olive and lime garnish (non-alc) 

Pour everything over plenty of ice in a wine glass. Add a slice of lime and a brined olive or two, then dive headfirst into the cool, refreshing waters!

2. Mountain, pink prosecco* and soda served with sliced strawberries (low abv)  
   

   

• 1 part Everleaf Mountain (50ml)
• 2 parts soda water (100ml)
• 3 parts pink Prosecco (150ml)
• Plenty of ice

Pour everything over plenty of ice in a big wine glass. Throw in some sliced strawberries and imagine the sun setting over the mountains!
* we’re big fans of the new Della Vite DV Rosé, or you could go non-alc with another favourite, Alt Drinks rosé

3. Forest & light tonic 

   

Our classic signature serve since January 2019

• 1 part Everleaf Forest (50ml)
• 3 parts light tonic (150ml)
• Plenty of ice

Pour everything over plenty of ice in a wine glass. Add a slice of orange, close your eyes and be transported to a warm forest glade!