Indulgences

1. el vermú

   Vermouth

   Usage

   A white-wine-based aperitif flavoured with herbs; use it when ordering at a bar

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. Written vermú with a stressed final ú; the spelling vermut is also seen

2. la sidra

   Cider

   Usage

   The characteristic apple drink of Asturies. In a cider bar (chigre) it is poured from a height in a thin stream, called escanciar, and the small serving drunk at once is a culín

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; the plural is sidres. It contains alcohol, so check before ordering if you do not drink

3. el cava

   Cava (Spanish sparkling wine)

   Usage

   Spanish sparkling wine, drunk for toasts at celebrations

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. The spelling matches Spanish. Cava is also a verb form of "to dig" (cavar), but in a drinks context the meaning is clear

4. el xerez

   Sherry

   Usage

   A fortified wine from around Jerez in southern Spain, ordered at a bar as an aperitif

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. It starts with x-, pronounced /ʃ/ (Spanish jerez, Asturian xerez). The town is written Xerez de la Frontera

5. el pacharán

   Pacharán (sloe liqueur)

   Usage

   A sweet liqueur made from sloe berries, served after a meal in a small glass

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. The spelling matches Spanish, with the accent on the final á

6. l'anís

   Anise liqueur

   Usage

   A liqueur flavoured with aniseed, served after a meal in a small glass

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; el becomes l' before a vowel. The same spelling also names the aniseed plant and spice, so pointing at the bottle helps

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