I'm not chasing algorithms or flattering advertisers. The Aperitif exists because I think you deserve a beverage newsletter that tells the truth. That's it. That's the whole point. Subscribe free → bevx.com/subscribe

Aperitif from BevX, 21 October, Tongue Dancer Pratt Vine Hill Vyd Chardonnay 24, sipping a Between the Sheets, Barbaresco & Barolo, Cocktails for Halloween, Italian Aperitivo, New Reviews, and BABE (Book) — BevX Insider (subscribers only) — icont.ac/51obg

Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly, any other purely sensory thing. — Ernest Hemingway

The classic cocktails became classics for one simple reason: they are delicious. Be A Beverage Expert (BABE) covers ten indispensable cocktails built on quality spirits and sound ratios… Find it on Amazon and wherever books are sold. #BeABeverageExpert icont.ac/51o9U

No snobbery. No spam. No agenda. Just thirty-plus years of industry knowledge, distilled into a five-minute read, every Wednesday. The Aperitif is for people who love what's in the glass and want to understand it better. Subscribe free → bevx.com/subscribe

Apparently, it's National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day. Who knew? Who loves pumpkin cheesecake?

Saratoga Cocktail — The original recipe dates to the 1880s, first being found in print in Jerry Thomas' iconic “Bar-Tenders Guide. See how to make this drink at home, as well as hundreds of other cocktails, at BevX. — icont.ac/51o8L

Negroni Sbagliato — The Negroni Sbagliato is one of my favorite variations of a classic. See how to make this drink at home, as well as hundreds of other cocktails, at BevX. — icont.ac/51o8f

Wine gives strength to weary men. — Homer

Most of what passes for wine expertise is theater. Be A Beverage Expert (BABE) is the real thing, written by someone who has spent 4 decades buying, making, judging, and drinking vino. Find it on Amazon and wherever books are sold. #BeABeverageExpert icont.ac/51o71

Tomorrow's issue: a standout Beverage of the Week, a Cocktail of the Week worth making, and the BevX Insider take you won't read anywhere else. Get on the list before it goes out. Subscribe free → bevx.com/subscribe

Grappa: The Case for Taking It Seriously — If you want to clear a table of timid drinkers, pour Grappa. Few spirits still polarize a room the way this one does. Detractors call it firewater. Supporters say it’s simply misunderstood... — icont.ac/51o62

Hemingway Daiquiri — The Hemingway Daiquiri is thought to have been created around the 1930s at the legendary El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba. See how to make this drink at home, as well as hundreds of other cocktails, at BevX. — icont.ac/51o5e

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer. — Homer Simpson

Wine is not confusing — it's just been made to seem that way. Be A Beverage Expert (BABE) gives you the knowledge to navigate any wine list or wine shop with genuine confidence. No snobs! Find it on Amazon and wherever books are sold. #BeABeverageExpert icont.ac/51o4g

Every Wednesday, before it hits the site, The Aperitif lands in your inbox. My unfiltered take on what's worth drinking this week, what's overhyped, and what nobody else in beverage media has the nerve to say. Free. 5 minutes. Worth it. Subscribe free → bevx.com/subscribe

Get Fluent with Native Italian Wine Grapes — We have said this before on the pages of BevX, but it’s worth repeating — If we had to restrict ourselves to the wines of just one nation, it would be Italy... — icont.ac/51o3l

Venetian Spritz — Before Aperol turned the Spritz into a global phenomenon, there was Select — the aperitivo that arguably invented the drink. See how to make this drink at home, as well as hundreds of other cocktails, at BevX. — icont.ac/51o2f

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. — Henny Youngman

If you make every 3rd wine purchase something you've never tried before, your wine education will accelerate faster than any course you could take. Be A Beverage Expert (BABE) gives you the map. Find it on Amazon and wherever books are sold. #BABE icont.ac/51o26

I'm not chasing algorithms or flattering advertisers. The Aperitif exists because I think you deserve a beverage newsletter that tells the truth. That's it. That's the whole point. Subscribe free → bevx.com/subscribe