The noun “apéritif” is taken from the French adjective of the same spelling, meaning “stimulating appetite.” An apéritif is an alcoholic drink usually served before the meal to stimulate the appetite. Common apéritifs include vermouth, dry sherry, brandy, champagne, and gin. The apéritif tradition has been in Europe for centuries, but in America, the practice gained popularity in the 1970s and is better known as “happy hour.” An apéritif is served before a meal, and a digestif is served at the end of a meal. Instead of a dry cocktail, it’s usually a sweeter beverage, such as cognac, sweet sherry, or a liqueur.