What term describes a person devoted to refined sensual enjoyment, particularly in food and drink?

The term that best describes a person devoted to refined sensual enjoyment, particularly in food and drink, is "epicure." An epicure is someone who takes great pleasure in fine food and drink, often seeking out and appreciating the intricacies and excellences of culinary experiences. The emphasis is on the enjoyment and appreciation of sensory pleasures, aligning perfectly with the definition provided in the question.

While the other terms are related to food and drink, they do not capture the same breadth of refined enjoyment associated with an epicure. A connoisseur, for example, primarily refers to someone with expert knowledge and discerning taste in various fields, including art and wine, but does not specifically denote a focus on the hedonistic enjoyment of food. A sommelier is a wine steward or expert, specializing in wine and its pairing with food, and while they focus on certain aspects of culinary experience, they do not encompass the broader sensual enjoyment indicated by the term "epicure." Lastly, a gourmand typically describes someone who enjoys eating a lot of food, often without the refined connotation that an epicure carries; a gourmand may indulge in food for pleasure but might not possess the discerning taste that characterizes an epicure.

Thus, "epicure" is the