3 Drinks to Help You Not Feel So Full

Last week, we highlighted 3 Drinks to Have Before a Big Meal in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday. But maybe even more important is having the right drinks after the meal, when you’ve had what for many is the biggest feast of the year. These gastronomical heights demand a drink that won’t weigh you down, and one that will help alleviate the full feeling. I think something herbally and bitter-y does the trick best. The below three should have you ready for leftovers in no time.

Stomach Reviver
This is the classic “I’ve eaten too much” cocktail. The restorative powers contained here come from the double shot of bitter-ing brought by the legendary Italian drink Fernet Branca (created in 1845 to combat malaria and containing 27 herbs in a secret recipe) and Peychaud’s bitters. The caraway kummel and brandy help, too.

Ice cubes

1 1/2 ounces brandy

1 ounce kümmel

1/2 ounce Fernet Branca

2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters 

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with cracked ice. Add everything, and stir well.

2. Strain the mix into a cocktail glass. Think less full thoughts.

Let It Fly
After too much turkey (and friends) you may feel a little grounded. This snazzy number gets you off the couch without much hassle. It uses small-batch Teeling Irish Whiskey, which has a great character and a vanilla-and-spice taste that’s a hint sweet while still providing some restorative umph. It goes swell with the bittery bits below, too.

Cracked ice

1-1/2 ounces Teeling Irish Whiskey

1 ounce Kronan Swedish Punsch

1/2 ounce Punt ‘e Mes vermouth

2 dashes Scrappy’s orange bitters

1 dash Angostura bitters

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with cracked ice. Add everything, and stir.

2. Strain the mix into a cocktail glass.

The Whip of the Conqueror
Sure, you love Thanksgiving dinner. But you also don’t want to let the meal get the best of you–you still have to conquer those leftover hills of potatoes, Alps of stuffing and lakes of gravy. This drink from Dark Spirits, which also uses the magical stomach-easing Fernet Branca, will let you be the conqueror.

Ice cubes

1-1/2 ounces dark rum

1 ounce Fernet Branca

1/2 ounce apricot liqueur

1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

Lime twist, for garnish

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the rum, Fernet Branca, apricot liqueur, and lime juice. Shake well.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with the lime whip. Oh, I mean twist.