Apéritifs are drinks which are normally served before a meal. The term is derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means to open and the intention of the drinks were to do exactly that – to “open” the appetite.
Apéritifs were widespread in the 19th century in Italy and France (they still are today), and many of the typical ingredients, be they served neat or used in iconic Aperitivo cocktails like the Negroni, tend to be traditional fortified wines and bitters from those regions (e.g. Campari, Aperol, Sweet Vermouth, Dubonnet, Pastis).