SPIRITED SELECTIONS: Do You Vermouth!?

Do You Vermouth!?
By Bag & String

Chances are you have a favorite vodka... Or a preference on the best bourbon for a Manhattan!? And surely a specific gin for G&Ts.

But what about vermouth!?

There’s no shame in it, but for so many of us, the focus of a drink is oftentimes on the base spirit in a cocktail. Or a bottle of specialty bitters. Or an eclectic liqueur.
Yet for so many of t

he classics, vermouth isn’t just a toss-away ingredient — it’s an essential component.

To many, vermouth likely elicits a memory of dusty bottles of Martini & Rossi in the family pantry or restaurant’s backbar, but like wine styles, different brands of vermouth differ in quality and flavor despite all falling under the same umbrella term of vermouth.

And beyond cocktails, many quality vermouths can be enjoyed on their own — as a chilled aperitif or lengthened with soda water. Go beyond the basic vermouth and get started with one of these three brands below which we stock in the shop!

LA QUINTINYE VERMOUTH ROYAL BLANC
750ml • $22.99
A rich, golden color, this French vermouth is made from a mix of 18 plants and white wines which yields a floral and fruity finished product with sweet notes of absinthe and orange zest.
Sumptuous and round, it tastes of mature yellow fruits and brioche with fleeting notes of spice.

OTTO’S ATHENS VERMOUTH
750ml • $20.99
From the traditional Martini & Rossi to the Bruno Marino of Spain and now on to Greece for the light and bright beautiful vermouth known as Otto’s of Athens.
Crimson in color, Otto’s Athens Vermouth had a nose of fresh lemon, rose petal, oregano and vanilla with a balanced flavor palate of slight sweetness up front and a light bitterness to finish.
Made by infusing high quality Green wine with rose petals, wormwood, citrus fruit, olive leaves and Greek herbs, this vermouth can be enjoyed in cocktails or on its own in a tall glass with ice and tonic water.

BRUNO MARINO
750ml • $21.99
Let these words sink in: Artisanal Spanish Vermouth made with a proprietary mix of herbs which are macerated for 9 months in high quality fortified wine.
A clear yet reddish-brown color, Bruno Marino has a nose of Orange rind, vanilla bean and saline with a complex combination of flavors ranging from bitter herbs & fresh straw to chocolate and bread.

Put this vermouth to use in a Negroni, sure, but give it a whirl in a Boulevardier — which like a Negroni has Campari and sweet vermouth but swaps the gin for bourbon.