The Case of the Confusing Bitter Beverages: Vermouth, Amaro, Aperitivos, and Other Botanical Schnapps

When it comes to booze, it’s fun to be bitter: an Aperol spritz has
been the drink of summer for about five years, vermouth and soda
was apparentlythe "hot girl" drink of 2023, and amaro is
having "a major moment." Bitter botanical beverages are everywhere,
but that doesn’t mean we understand what on earth they are.
Could you explain the difference between vermouth and
amaro, or whether either is an aperitif or a digestif? Where do
Aperol, Campari, and Chartreuse fit in, and what’s the difference
between drinks called bitters and the bitters your bartender dashes
into a Manhattan? This episode, Gastropod is on the case of the
confusing bitter beverages, starting with their origins in alchemy.
(That pre-dinner spritz is pretty magical!) Listen in now to find
out why Napoleon chugged cologne, how a shopkeeper’s assistant
created the preferred drink of kings and influencers, and how you
should enjoy these trendy new botanical beverages. Learn more about
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