Photo: pazavi, Flickr.
Aperitives are meant to stimulate your appetite, with the root of the word going back to a Latin base meaning "to open." These drinks are supposed to get your stomach ready for food. The exact origin of a drink before dinner is unknown. Commercial production of vermouths in Italy popularized the drink before dinner, often served with finger foods such as nuts and olives.
You may find ouzo before dinner in Greece, pastis served in France or sherry in Spain. The Italians love to serve bitter liqueurs known as amari before dinner. Campari and Aperol are wonderful examples.

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The Negroni is one of my favorite drinks (Ted Allen and I even talked about it when I 



