The Aperitivo sits in the increasingly crowded space of AF spirits that aim for complexity rather than just mimicking gin. Where the other M&S botanicals in this range lead with fruit or herbs, this one takes an Italian-inflected route: smoked cherry wood, orange and Madagascan vanilla are the headline flavourings, layered over a distilled botanical base of juniper, pink pepper, coriander, cinnamon and lavender. The result is richer and more aromatic than a straight gin substitute. The smokiness is present but restrained; the vanilla rounds out the edges; the orange adds brightness. At 17 kcal per 100ml it's the lowest calorie option in the M&S botanical range, though the sugar sits at 4.0g per 100ml — noticeably higher than the other botanicals, largely because sugar is explicitly listed as an ingredient. Serve over ice with tonic or soda, or combine with low-alcohol Prosecco for an aperitivo format that holds its own at pre-dinner drinks. Vegan-friendly.