Books
What Does the Aperitif Look Like in America?
With low-alcohol cocktails on the rise, the U.S. is looking to Europe for inspiration. Here, a look at how American bars have adopted the aperitif and its accompanying culture.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Five Cocktails Made for Daytime Drinking
The art of daytime drinking, long a cultural mainstay in Europe, has become more prevalent stateside in recent years. Here, five cocktails made for midday, from a sherry-strawberry highball to…
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
The Evolution of the “Culinary Cocktail”
How has the idea of the "culinary cocktail" evolved over the last five years? Here, a look at the drinks strengthening the bond between bar and kitchen.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
The New Brunch Cocktails
No longer solely the domain of Bloody Marys and Mimosas, bartenders are looking at brunch with the same thoughtfulness as they do drinks for any other hour. Here, a handful…
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Recipes
How to Master Aperitif Hour at Home
Aperitif culture can be as much a fixture of a night in as an evening out—here, the basics for serving your own aperitif hour at home.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
What Aperitif Hour Looks Like in America
The European tradition has seen a recent uptick in bars across the country.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
The Low-ABV Cocktail Movement
How bartenders and consumers are approaching the low-proof cocktail wave.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
A Scented Stretch
Built on a base of white rum, A Scented Stretch gets sweetness from honey syrup and St-Germain and acidity from a shot of crisp white wine.
- story: Frances Yackel
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Lysette
In a nod to the aperitif’s origins, the components of the Lysette are all French—from the gentle bitterness of Salers to the fizzy smack of Kronenbourg.
- story: Frances Yackel
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Lookbook: Gui Jaroschy, Bars Director for the Freehand Hotels and Bar Lab
Broken Shaker's Gui Jaroschy shares his go-to drink orders, his weirdest cocktail experiments and tips on how to drink like the French.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Anthony Rayburn
Roman Charity
A loose twist on the Saturn, the Roman Charity is undeniably tropical, yet simultaneously comforting.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Anthony Rayburn
Behind the Culinary-Minded Cocktail Bar
The key lessons a number of bars have drawn from the kitchen, from techniques to mise en place.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
The Nightcap’s New Look
The idea of what constitutes the last drink of the night has evolved.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
Drink Your Veggies
This aperitif drink marries earthy carrot juice with the grassy notes of cachaça and St-Germain's floral palate.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Anthony Tahlier
The PUNCH Guide to Drinking in Paris
The essential guide to Paris' best craft beer, wine, cocktail bars and nightlife.
Lookbook: Jacyara de Oliveira of Chicago’s La Sirena Clandestina
The Beverage Director at El Che Bar and La Sirena Clandestina on what makes a great aperitif, her go-to drink order and tips on how to drink like the French.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Anthony Tahlier
Lookbook: Sebastian Cañas of Boston’s Yvonne’s
Sebastian Canas of Yvonne's in Boston takes our Lookbook Questionnaire to share the one thing he wishes would disappear from cocktail menus, his go-to drink orders and tips on how…
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Simon Simard
Old Frenchie
Sebastian Cañas of Yvonne's in Boston plays on the Old Cuban cocktail in his aperitif, the Old Frenchie.
- story: Bianca Prum
- photo: Simon Simard
Lookbook: Ryan Wainwright of LA’s Faith & Flower
The LA bartender shares his weirdest hobby, go-to drink, the one thing he wishes would disappear from cocktail menus and expert tips on how to drink like the French.
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Dylan + Jeni
Petit Fleur
St-Germain forms the backbone of this aperitif as bitter and citrus elements complement the aromatics of the base liqueur.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Dylan + Jeni
Lookbook: Lauren Corriveau of NYC’s Nitecap
Nitecap's Lauren Corriveau takes our Lookbook Questionnaire to share her weirdest hobby, the one thing she wishes would disappear from drink menus and expert tips on how to drink like…
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
Crystal Visions
This wine-based nightcap by Lauren Corriveau at Nitecap combines Salers, fennel liqueur and St-Germain.
- story: emma_g
- photo: Lizzie Munro
How to Make The St-Germain Cocktail
The St-Germain Cocktail is a warm-weather go-to, easy in both execution and drinkability.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Leo Robitschek | Bar Director, The NoMad
NoMad bar director Leo Robitschek is as much a perfectionist as he is an innovator. After joining the team at Eleven Madison Park a little over a decade ago—and being…
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Six Cocktails That Rethink the Nightcap
The last drink of the night can come in many forms. Here, six bartenders offer their take on the nightcap, from an amaro-inspired Pousse-Café to a savory, stirred cocktail that…
- story: Punch Staff
- photos: Lizzie Munro
lookbook
Lynnette Marrero | Bar Director, Llama Inn
Like so many of today’s best bartenders, Lynnette Marrero got her start alongside Julie Reiner at Flatiron Lounge. From there she racked up an impressive array of accolades, and has built some of New York’s best cocktail programs, from… Read More
Midnight Bouquet
"A great nightcap is the perfect mix of strong and sweet," claims Meaghan Dorman, whose Midnight Bouquet incorporates St-Germain alongside grapefruit for a bittersweet companion to the salinity and smokiness…
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Cooper’s Nightcap
Jamie Boudreau's nightcap is meant to resolve a complex meal, replicating an amaro with layers of crème de mûre, St-Germain and Angostura bitters.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Turn Down Service
With just a touch of St-Germain alongside Scotch and tawny port, this spirit-forward drink is the final indulgence of the day, complete with the requisite cherry on top.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Señorita Spritz
Somewhere between tiki and canonical classic sits the Señorita Spritz, a genre-bending cocktail crafted from ingredients whose origins span the globe.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
East of Eden
A more delicate alternative to most brunch cocktails, the East of Eden combines gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, and an inventive Gewürztraminer syrup.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Grievous Angel
The bourbon-based Grievous Angel softens the hit of whiskey with a touch of St-Germain’s floral sweetness alongside strawberry syrup, and kicks everything up with the addition of bitters and citrus…
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Nudie Beach
Brian Griffiths of Miami’s Broken Shaker accentuates the floral quality of St-Germain with fresh melon notes in the form of housemade honeydew syrup.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
For Rex
For Rex riffs on the classic Ojen cocktail, a Mardi Gras favorite comprising Ojen, bitters, sugar, and water, with an added level of complexity by way of St-Germain.
- story: Chloe Frechette
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Abigail Gullo | Head Bartender, Compère Lapin
Though she moved to New Orleans just five years ago, Abigail Gullo was quick to become an influential voice within the city’s historic cocktail culture, first at SoBou and now…
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Will Elliott | Bar Director, Maison Premiere & Sauvage
It’s been a big year for Will Elliott, Bar Director at Brooklyn’s famed absinthe and oyster den, Maison Premiere. Less than a month after the team took home the James Beard…
- photo: Lizzie Munro
The Shining Path
Will Elliott pairs bitter gentian liqueurs Avèze and Salers with lemon juice, lemon cordial and St-Germain.
- story: Lizzie Munro
- photo: