When it comes to booze, it’s fun to be bitter: an Aperol spritz has been the drink of summer for about five years, vermouth and soda was apparentlythe "hot girl" drink of 2023, and amaro is having "a major moment." Bitter botanical beverages are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean we understand what on earth they are. Could you explain the difference between vermouth and amaro, or whether either is an aperitif or a digestif? Where do Aperol, Campari, and Chartreuse fit in, and what’s the difference between drinks called bitters and the bitters your bartender dashes into a Manhattan? This episode, Gastropod is on the case of the confusing bitter beverages, starting with their origins in alchemy. (That pre-dinner spritz is pretty magical!) Listen in now to find out why Napoleon chugged cologne, how a shopkeeper’s assistant created the preferred drink of kings and influencers, and how you should enjoy these trendy new botanical beverages.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Whole Hog
The Scoop on Ice Cream
Crunch, Crackle, and Pop
Field Recordings
The Cocktail Hour
Gastropod on Gastropods
Savor Flavor
Say Cheese!
No Scrubs: Breeding a Better Bull
Breakfast of Champions
Kale of the Sea
Bite: Smoked Pigeon and Other Subnatural Delights
The Microbe Revolution
Dan Barber’s Quest for Flavor
Episode 1: The Golden Spoon
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Stuff You Should Know
On Being with Krista Tippett
TED Radio Hour
The War of the Worlds
A Tale of Two Cities
Planet Money
The Dinner Party Download