For the French, the fleeting interlude between a long workday and the evening meal to come is not meant to be hectic or crazed. Instead, that time is a much-needed chance to pause, take a breath, and reset with light drinks and snacks. Whether it’s a quick affair before dashing out the door to your favorite Parisian bistro or a lead-up to a more lavish party, Apritif is about kicking off the night, rousing the appetite, and doing so with the carefree spirit of connection and conviviality. Apritif celebrates that easygoing lifestyle with simple yet stylish recipes for both classic and modern French apritif-style cocktails, along with French-inspired bites and hors d’oeuvres. Keeping true to the apritif tradition, you’ll find cocktail recipes that use lighter, low-alcohol spirits, fortified wines, and bitter liqueurs.