The Swiss Germans use the word Apéro when referring to Apéritif.
An apéritif (also spelled aperitif) is is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Common choices for an apéritif are vermouth, champagne, fino, amontillado (or other styles of sherry) and any still, dry, light white wine.
“Apéritif” may also refer to a snack that precedes a meal. This includes an amuse-bouche, such as crackers, cheese, pâté or olives.
“Apéritif” is a French word derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means “to open.”
A digestif is an alcoholic beverage served after a meal, in theory to aid digestion. When served after a coffee course, it may be called pousse-café.
Digestifs are usually taken straight. Common kinds of digestif include brandy, eaux de vie (fruit brandies), a pomace brandy (like grappa), various bitter or sweet liqueurs (like amari, herbal liqueur, Chartreuse, or limoncello), and other distilled liquors (ouzo, tequila, whisky or akvavit).
Bitter digestifs typically contain carminative herbs, which are thought to aid digestion.
Some fortified wines are served as digestifs — for example, sherry, vermouth, port, and madeira.
