What is commonly served on the side of a drink served neat?

When a drink is served neat, it means that the spirit is poured straight from the bottle into a glass without any mixers, ice, or water. A common practice when serving a neat drink is to offer a chaser, which is typically a beverage meant to be taken after a sip of the primary drink to help cleanse the palate or to mitigate the intensity of the spirit's flavor.

Chasers can vary widely but often include soft drinks, water, or something lighter to refresh the palate after the stronger flavor of the neat spirit. This practice is particularly common with strong spirits like whiskey, vodka, or tequila, where the chaser provides a contrasting flavor and makes the experience more enjoyable for some drinkers.

In contrast, options like apéritif, broiler, and tonic do not align with the concept of being served alongside a neat drink. An apéritif is typically enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite, not necessarily accompanying a neat drink. A broiler does not have a relevant connection to beverage service in this context, and tonic is a mixer that is usually served with drinks like gin or vodka but doesn't pertain to neat servings, where the focus is purely on the spirit itself.