How to Taste After Dinner Drinks

A digestif should be enjoyed correctly.

An after dinner drink, also known as a digestif, is a sweet alcoholic beverage that is drunk after dining to finish the meal and aid in digestion. To get the full experience out of a good digestif, it is important to taste it properly. Simply gulping it down would defeat the purpose of the experience. When enjoyed the right way, this final touch will truly complete your meal.

Things You'll Need

• Water

Instructions

1. Drink a glass of water to help cleanse your palette. This will help to ensure that you are enjoying the full flavor of the digestif.

2. Place the glass beneath your nose and slowly inhale. Taste is intimately linked to smell, and taking a deep whiff of the digestif will further enrich the experience.

3. Sip the digestif, drawing both liquid and air into your mouth. You may make a slight slurping sound as you do this, so long as it is not obnoxiously loud it is not considered bad manners.

4. Allow the digestif to roll around your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. If you desire, close your eyes as the liquid coats your mouth to fully concentrate on the flavors.

5. Swallow the digestif and allow a brief pause to enjoy the aftertaste before taking your next sip.

References

• American Cocktails: The Back Story of Classic After Dinner Cocktails
• "The Bar Guide"; Williams-Sonoma; 1999