Pre-dinner Cocktails

With the arrival of colder weather in these parts comes the shift to more substantial foods at dinner time: roasts, stews, casseroles and the like. So, too, we put away the lighter, refreshing cocktails of summer in favour of drinks that also have a bit more heft. These tend to rely on herbs and other botanicals infused in wine and spirits, all intended to sharpen the appetite for heartier fare. Another plus: they're very simple to prepare.

Campari is a bitter Italian aperitif, usually served mixed with soda in that country. American tourists preferred a sweeter drink and so the Americano was born. Combine 1 ounce of Campari and 1½ ounces of sweet red vermouth in an old fashioned glass over ice. Stir and enjoy. What could be easier?

Just as easy is the Dubonnet Cocktail. A flavoured French red wine, Dubonnet rouge makes a fine sipper on the rocks with a twist of lemon. To make a Dubonnet Cocktail, mix 1 ounce Dubonnet rouge and 1 ounce gin over ice in an old fashioned glass.

The Negroni is only slightly more difficult to make. To an old fashioned glass containing a few ice cubes, add 1 ounce each Campari, sweet red vermouth, and gin. Stir and sip contentedly while you wait for the oven (or microwave) timer to sound.

Years ago, sherry was a popular before dinner drink, and it plays a role in the following cocktail. We discovered this one at the restaurant of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel in Toronto about a year ago, and it instantly became one of my wife's favourites. It's not difficult to make, but as you'll see, it makes sense to mix a double or triple batch in a measuring cup. You'll need 1 ounce of gin, ½ ounce each of sherry, Dubonnet rouge, and dry white vermouth, and 1 teaspoon of Grand Marnier. Stir all the ingredients together in an old fashioned glass over ice and garnish with a maraschino cherry. Adding a dash of the cherry juice won't hurt. As I mentioned, doubling or tripling the recipe makes it easier to measure the ingredients and more congenial for sharing. The drink is called the European.

So there you are, some classic pre-dinner cocktails ideally suited to cold-weather, early nightfall, and comfort food. Cheers!