Beginning a meal with an aperitif is somewhat of a forgotten practice.  Yet a refreshing, bright, delicious, glass of sparkling wine or perfectly crafted cocktail remains one of the best ways to begin an evening.  There is always time to move into a selection or two from the wine list with your meal, but this delicious ritual is a great way to prepare the palate for what is to come. 

In fact, many times people are not ready to sit down and decide on a wine selection immediately upon entering a restaurant.  When this situation presents itself, the ideal way to tide yourself over is with an aperitif—something quick, refreshing and easy.

    The challenge comes with deciding what to drink.  One way to make this decision easier is to have a couple aperitif drinks in mind upon arriving, or simply ask for a suggestion from a well-informed server or bartender at the establishment.  The very idea of an aperitif is to start the meal with something refreshing, high in acid, and exciting to the palate.  The word itself is derived from the Latin verb “aperiere,” which means “to open.” By this definition, an aperitif could serve to open your mind and palate for the meal a  hand.

    As with wine, it’s easier to start with drinks that are bright and refreshing before moving on to something with more body and complexity as the meal progresses.  Good aperitif beverages include cool climate white wines, sparkling wines or cocktails with high levels of acidy, usually the result of a fresh fruit juice.  Whether you decide on a cocktail or wine, the key is to have a relatively light-bodied drink, refreshing in style, with brightness and balanced structure to begin the evening. 

    There is a vast world of possibilities in this category, so for the sake of simplicity, here are five trustworthy classics that are easy to remember for your next dining experience.  The idea is to have a few drinks in mind that are mainstream enough to enjoy at most bars and restaurants.  As with all food and beverage, not all places are going to specialize in exotic or classic cocktails like the “Pink Lady” or the “French 75.”  Therefore, let us focus on the following five drinks as a mental cheat sheet