IItalians drink with a purpose. In this wine-soaked country, no dinner is complete without a bottle of vino. But just as important to the Italian way of life is the aperitivo and the digestivo—the typically bitter drinks that precede and conclude a meal. By now, you're undoubtedly an expert at sipping Negronis and spritzes, but with the ever-growing popularity of Italian bitters and amari, it's officially time to expand your horizons and do as the Italians do.  

The first concept you need to get acquainted with is aperitivo hour, which occurs in the evening after the workday but before—and separate from—dinner. "For Italians, it's just the start of the evening, whereas in America, it's the end of the day," says Naren Young, partner and head bartender at New York's Caffe Dante, which won the 2017 Spirited Award for Best American Restaurant Bar at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. This is when you'll find Italians drinking low-ABV aperitivo bitters like Campari, Aperol and Contratto, combined with sparkling wine, fizzy water and/or vermouth. Think an Aperol Spritz or Americano.