Definition

Noun: 1. A small, layered after-dinner drink: A "pousse-café" is a type of cocktail served in a small glass, traditionally consumed after a meal. It is characterized by its distinct, unmixed layers of different liqueurs, achieved by carefully pouring each ingredient based on its specific density.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The bartender skillfully prepared a beautiful pousse-café with layers of grenadine, crème de menthe, and brandy.
  • After the elaborate meal, the host offered his guests a pousse-café as a digestif.

Advanced Usage

• As a category of drink: The term can refer to the specific technique of layering liqueurs or to the general class of layered after-dinner drinks.
  • Mastering the pousse-café requires patience and a steady hand.

Variants and Related Words

• Pousse-café glass (n): A tall, narrow stemmed glass specifically designed for serving pousse-café drinks.
• Layered drink (n): A more general term for any beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, prepared with distinct, unmixed layers.

Synonyms

• Digestif: A broader term for any alcoholic beverage served after a meal to aid digestion.
• Cordial: A sweet, flavored liqueur, which can be a component of a pousse-café.

Notes on Meaning

The defining characteristic of a "pousse-café" is its presentation as separate, colored layers in a single glass. While it is an after-dinner drink, its primary meaning is tied to this specific layered preparation method, not just any post-meal beverage.

Noun

1. small drink served after dinner (especially several liqueurs poured carefully so as to remain in separate layers)