(n.) Conceptually paired with the aperitif as book-ends to a meal, the digestif is an after-dinner drink, and is usually a fortified wine or distilled liquor, served neat in small amounts. The ritual originated in Europe (digestif from France, digestivo from Italy), where a small amount of liquor after dinner was thought to help digestion. This category can encompass a wide range of alcohols, including port, sherry, madeira, amari, whiskey, liqueurs and brandy.