With the holidays here, you’re likely to enjoy some heavy, seasonal meals. After all the turkey, ham, and sides, you’ll want something to settle your stomach and aid in digestion. That’s where digestifs come in—but not just any will do.
What is a digestif?
This brings us to one crucial question: what exactly is a digestif? Just stop for a moment and think about the name, and you’ll figure it out. A digestif is just what it sounds like. It’s an alcoholic drink consumed after a meal to help with digestion. It’s that simple.
Over years of writing about and drinking alcohol, I’ve made it a habit to enjoy a boozy, warming digestif after holiday meals. They help with digesting rich, meaty dishes, and also offer a quiet moment to chat with friends and family. Common digestifs include cognac, brandy, whiskey, port, amaro, herbal liqueurs, and more. I’ve tried them all, but there are a few I prefer over others.
How do digestifs work?
Digestifs get their name from aiding digestion after heavy meals. They’re often higher proof and feature bittersweet or herbal flavors that help the stomach. The best part? You’re not taking foul medicine—you’re sipping something complex and flavorful.
If you really want to get the most out of an after-dinner drink, you’ll choose a bitter digestif (there are a ton of bitter and bittersweet liqueurs to choose from). That’s because the human body doesn’t know how to handle overly bitter things, and the stomach begins to work in overdrive as a result. In essence, it thinks it needs to get rid of this overly bitter, strange liquid you put in your stomach.
The best digestifs to drink this fall and winter
Now that you’ve learned about the appeal of imbibing a nice digestif after a heavy holiday meal, it’s time to find some to add to your seasonal liquor cabinet. Below, you’ll find some of the best amaro, herbal liqueurs, and other digestifs worth drinking this winter. As a side note, we decided not to add whiskey or other classic spirits because we assume you already have those bottles at home. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Amaro Averna
Like many amaro, Amaro Averna has a long history. This timeless digestif dates back to 1868. This was when a Sicilian man named Salvatore Averna received the recipe from a group of Benedictine monks. This herbal liqueur is made with a secret recipe of herbs, spices, roots, and other ingredients. It has a bittersweet palate featuring flavors like candied citrus peels, bitter chocolate, cola, and an overarching herbal backbone.
$28.99
Meletti Limoncello
If you’ve never tried limoncello, what are you waiting for? One of the best choices is Meletti Limoncello. This Italian liqueur is made with simple ingredients like alcohol, sugar, and lemons grown on the coast of Sorrento. This result is a memorable lemon, orange, floral, tart, sweet spirit that will add some extra zest to the end of a heavy winter meal. It’s traditionally kept in the freezer until it’s ready to be sipped neat in a chilled glass.
$26.99
Green Chartreuse
This green-hued, French-made, herbal liqueur is produced by Carthusian monks and has been since the 1600s. Like many famous liqueurs, the recipe is a closely guarded secret featuring more than 130 herbs, botanicals, and other ingredients. It’s known for its herbal flavor centered on notes of pine, citrus peels, cracked black pepper, and licorice. As a bonus, this memorable liqueur is potent and warming at 110 proof.
$74.99
Fernet-Branca
A favorite of bartenders everywhere, Fernet-Branca is an Italian amaro known for its herbal, bittersweet flavor profile featuring notes of menthol, citrus, and bitter herbs. Its recipe isn’t made public, but it features more than 30 ingredients, including aloe, chinchona bark, chamomile, saffron, rhubarb, and more. Drink it neat or mix it with Coke to make a bittersweet, refreshing digestif cocktail.
$27.99
Disaronno Amaretto
Another great choice for after-dinner drinking is the classic Disaronno Amaretto. This Italian amaretto liqueur is made with spices, apricot kernels, and vanilla. Even though it’s not actually made with any nuts, the result is an almond-forward flavor profile featuring notes of caramelized sugar, dried fruits, citrus peels, and gentle spices. Lower in alcohol content than many of the digestifs on the list at only 56-proof, it’s best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a cocktail like the popular Godfather (also featuring Scotch whisky).
$27.99
Grand Marnier
No holiday bar cart is complete without Grand Marnier. Created in 1880 by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, it’s made by blending premium cognac, the distilled essence of Caribbean-grown oranges, and sugar. This results in a multi-layered liqueur that’s loaded with flavors like candied orange peels, warming
$27.99
