286 drinks285 cocktails1 mocktails81 flavor profiles18 food pairings
Best starting points
| Drink | Flavor | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Americano | 121 | 20.5 | HerbalOrange | Aperitif drink |
| 2 | Dry Martini | 125 | 39.2 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 3 | Dry Martini (5-to-1) | 311 | 30.1 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 4 | Martini | 125 | 39.2 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 5 | Martini (Dry) (5-to-1) | 311 | 30.1 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 6 | Martini (Medium) | 302 | 25.6 | HerbalBotanical | Aperitif drink |
| 7 | Rum Martini | 172 | 34.7 | CitrusBotanical | Aperitif drink |
| 8 | Traditional Martini (Dry) | 106 | 29.7 | CitrusBotanical | Aperitif drink |
| 9 | Vodka Martini | 129 | 33.8 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 10 | Flatiron Martini | 296 | 29.3 | CitrusOrange | Aperitif drink |
| 11 | French Negroni | 151 | 25.8 | HerbalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 12 | Negroni | 189 | 28.3 | HerbalAperitif | Aperitif drink |
| 13 | Sake Martini | 244 | 36.4 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 14 | Sake Martini (Sakini) | 244 | 36.4 | BotanicalCitrus | Aperitif drink |
| 15 | Sand-Martini Cocktail | 365 | 30.4 | HerbalBotanical | Aperitif drink |
Refine these drinks
Cocktails
- AmericanoAperitif drinkHerbalOrangeCitrus
- Dry MartiniAperitif drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Dry Martini (5-to-1)Aperitif drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- MartiniAperitif drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Martini (Dry) (5-to-1)Aperitif drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Martini (Medium)Aperitif drinkHerbalBotanicalCitrus
- Rum MartiniAperitif drinkCitrusBotanicalDry
- Traditional Martini (Dry)Aperitif drinkCitrusBotanicalHerbal
- Vodka MartiniAperitif drinkBotanicalCitrusDry
- Flatiron MartiniAperitif drinkCitrusOrangeAperitif
Beer styles
- Berliner WeisseBeer styleTart, low-ABV beer with a sessionable aperitif character.
- SaisonBeer styleDry botanical farmhouse ale, suits pre-dinner drinks.
- German PilsBeer styleCrisp and bitter lager, a good aperitif beer style.
- Sour BeerBeer styleAcidic and appetite-stimulating, works as a pre-dinner drink.
Wine styles
- ProseccoWine styleLight dry sparkling wine, a popular aperitif choice.
- ChampagneWine styleClassic aperitif sparkling wine.
- Sauvignon BlancWine styleCrisp dry white wine, well suited to pre-dinner serving.
- VermouthWine styleAromatized wine served as an aperitif, dry or sweet.
- Pinot GrigioWine styleCrisp neutral white wine, popular as a pre-dinner pour.
Build with
- GinSpiritBotanical base for Negroni, G&T and other aperitif serves.
- CampariLiqueurBitter Italian liqueur widely used in aperitif cocktails.
- AperolLiqueurCore ingredient of the Aperol Spritz, one of the most popular aperitifs.
- Dry VermouthFortified wineDry fortified wine used as an aperitif and in Martini-style drinks.
- Lillet BlancFortified wineElegant French aperitif fortified wine.
Preferences
Food & flavor
- BitterFlavorBitter flavour is the defining characteristic of aperitif drinks.
- CitrusFlavorOrange and lemon notes are common in aperitif serves.
- DryFlavorA dry finish helps stimulate appetite before a meal.
- BotanicalFlavorHerbal botanical notes define the character of many aperitifs.
- OlivesFood pairingClassic bar snack served alongside aperitif drinks.
- Small PlatesFood pairingLight bites are a natural accompaniment to pre-dinner drinks.
Beer styles for Aperitif
- Berliner WeisseBeer styleTart, low-ABV beer with a sessionable aperitif character.
- SaisonBeer styleDry botanical farmhouse ale, suits pre-dinner drinks.
- German PilsBeer styleCrisp and bitter lager, a good aperitif beer style.
- Sour BeerBeer styleAcidic and appetite-stimulating, works as a pre-dinner drink.
Wine styles for Aperitif
- ProseccoWine styleLight dry sparkling wine, a popular aperitif choice.
- ChampagneWine styleClassic aperitif sparkling wine.
- Sauvignon BlancWine styleCrisp dry white wine, well suited to pre-dinner serving.
- VermouthWine styleAromatized wine served as an aperitif, dry or sweet.
- Pinot GrigioWine styleCrisp neutral white wine, popular as a pre-dinner pour.
Build Aperitif drinks with
- GinSpiritBotanical base for Negroni, G&T and other aperitif serves.
- CampariLiqueurBitter Italian liqueur widely used in aperitif cocktails.
- AperolLiqueurCore ingredient of the Aperol Spritz, one of the most popular aperitifs.
- Dry VermouthFortified wineDry fortified wine used as an aperitif and in Martini-style drinks.
- Lillet BlancFortified wineElegant French aperitif fortified wine.
Preference paths for Aperitif
Food and flavor matches
- BitterFlavorBitter flavour is the defining characteristic of aperitif drinks.
- CitrusFlavorOrange and lemon notes are common in aperitif serves.
- DryFlavorA dry finish helps stimulate appetite before a meal.
- BotanicalFlavorHerbal botanical notes define the character of many aperitifs.
- OlivesFood pairingClassic bar snack served alongside aperitif drinks.
- Small PlatesFood pairingLight bites are a natural accompaniment to pre-dinner drinks.
What drinks suit aperitif?
Pre-dinner drinks designed to be lighter, drier, bitter, herbal or sparkling, helping set up a meal without feeling too heavy or dessert-like.
planning tip
Planning drinks for aperitif
Plan by pace: lighter drinks early, richer or stronger drinks later, and at least one lower-strength option if people will be drinking over time.
When to choose it
How to choose drinks for aperitif
For aperitif, match the drink to the food, timing and energy of the moment. This occasion has 284 recipe matches, so narrow by strength, flavor and serve style.
Skip if
Avoid these choices for aperitif
Avoid drinks that fight the pace of the occasion. The best choice should match the food, timing and how slowly or quickly people are likely to drink.
What it is
What makes a good aperitif drink?
A good aperitif drink should match the pace, food and mood of the moment. Balance, serve style and drinkability matter as much as strength.
Dietary options
Aperitif drinks — common questions
- How many drinks suit aperitif?
- There are 286 drinks in the WhatDrink database suited to aperitif — including 285 cocktails and 1 mocktails. Browse and filter by drink type above.
- What are the best cocktails for aperitif?
- Top cocktail choices for aperitif include Americano, Dry Martini, Dry Martini (5-to-1). The full ranked list above shows options ordered by how well they match the occasion.
- How are drinks ranked for aperitif?
- Drinks are ranked for aperitif based on flavor profile, strength, drink type and typical serving context. Alcohol-free options are clearly labelled.
Last updated
Occasion suggestions are approximate and based on recipe flavour profile, ingredients and typical serving context. Actual suitability can vary by personal preference and preparation.