Availability:
Vermouth
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Maidenii Dry Vermouth (375ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenABV: 19%This is the latest offering from a collaboration between French wine maker Gilles Lapalus and Australian bartender Shaun Byrne. In the creation of these world class Vermouths, they have sourced leaves, flowers, fruits, herbs, seeds, spices and roots from the gardens of both the old world and the new. The vital components, wormwood and wine, are plucked fresh from Victoria. Other key ingredients include strawberry gum, river mint, sea parsley and wattle seed. The 'Dry' completes a superb triptych of Vermouths and represents their finest effort to date. Tasting note: Pale straw gold colour. Perfumed aromatics open with a fruity / herbaceous burst that includes bay leaf, clove, indian spices and more over a fresh and fruity base wine. The fruitiness comes to the fore after exposure leaning towards stewed apricot / fruit mince pie. Exceptional complexity. The palate is lean, light yet with good depth opening spicy with a dried citrus peel and apricot burst before turning deliciously nutty, spicy and refreshingly acidic towards the finish. Concludes bone dry and delicately bitter as the gentian asserts itself with hints of clove and a medley of flavours reverberating into the lengthy fade. Beautifully composed. A superb drink in its own right, it will take your Martinis to the next level. 19% Alc./Vol.![456040044_1.jpg]()
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Maidenii Sweet Vermouth (375ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenABV: 16%Closure: CorkMaidenii Vermouth is a collaboration between French wine maker Gilles Lapalus and Australian bartender Shaun Byrne. In the creation of Maidenii they have sourced leaves, flowers, fruits, herbs, seeds, spices and roots from the gardens of both the old world and the new. The vital components, wormwood and wine, are plucked fresh from Victoria. Other key ingredients include strawberry gum, river mint, sea parsley and wattle seed.
Shaun has been tinkering behind the bar of Melbourne martini haven Gin Palace for over 5 years. This has helped him nurture his interest in capturing and enhancing natural flavours, arising in house-made concoctions and a sophisticated understanding of palates.
Born of a French wine family, Gilles has wine flowing through his veins. He crossed the globe to take over the position of Winemaker at the dynamic Sutton Grange Winery.
The two were bought together by their love of Vermouth; Gilles bringing with him the traditional alchemy of pastoral Europe to complement Shaun’s knowledge of the vibrant food and drink culture of Australia’s young cities.
Tasting note: Bright crimson / cherry appearance. Moderate aroma issues an attractive combination of citrus peel and black fruits with subtle herbaceous undertones. A soft, silky entry is followed by a light to medium bodied mid palate with semi sweet flavours of blood orange and sweet spices. Finish is gently acidic and cleansing - certainly not overly sweet by any measure. Nicely balanced. Concludes with refreshing grape fruit and dried berry notes followed by a gently bitter fade. A welcome entry into a category that of late has become excessively sweet. 16% Alc./Vol.
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Ransom Sweet Vermouth (500ml)UNITED STATES$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 17.8%A blend of organically and conventionally farmed aromatic white varietals, including Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The wines are fortified with brandy alambically distilled in-house. The vermouth is then barrel aged in mixed French oak with an infusion of Wormwood, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Wild Cherry Bark, Red Cinchona Bark, Dandelion Root, Hibiscus Flower, Orris Root, Cardamom Pods, Blessed Thistle, Chamomile, Orange Peel, Verbena, Spearmint Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Arch Angel Root, Lemon Peel, Vanilla Beans, Cacao Nibs, Coffee Beans, Walnuts, Black Mission Figs, Medjool Dates and Dried Cherries. Ransom's expression harkens back to the flourishing cocktail culture of the Belle Époque, when joie de vivre filled the air and Vermouth made the evolutionary leap from charlatan snake oil and disguised refuse to a distinguished mainstay of the era’s most popular drinks - the Martinez, the Negroni, and across the pond, the Manhattan. The vermouth is finally sweetened to a bittersweet balance with a proprietary blend of Muscat grape juice, maple syrup and Turbinado sugar and minimally filtered before bottling. While it's an original recipe with elements of whimsy, it remains fundamentally a classical formulation, rooted in flavours of wormwood and the quinate barks. 17.8% Alc./Vol.![148615190681_1.jpg]()
Routin Blanc Vermouth (750ml)FRANCE$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenABV: 16%Philibert Routin created this Blanc Vermouth more than a century ago incorporating plants, flowers and spices macerated in local Chambéry wine for several weeks. It continues to be produced in Chambéry using white Sauvignon and local Jacquère wines and an artful blend of eighteen botanicals (wormwood, Bourbon vanilla beans, thyme, cinnamon, elderflower and more). With a floral/herbal bouquet characterised by aromatic thyme, as well as light spice, its sweet, fruity taste make it delicious served straight, on ice, with a lemon wedge or a slice of pink grapefruit. Alternatively, try it as a long drink, diluted with sparkling water or slightly bitter tonic - an apéritif favourite.
Other reviews... Herbaceous aromas lead into a light bodied palate marked by mild pear sweetness, finishing light and crisp with hints of fresh-snipped herbs and cinnamon. Versatile; sip or mix. Best Buy. 16% Alc./Vol. 94 points - wineenthusiast.com TOP 100 SPIRITS 2019.
Storage advice: Unopened bottles of Vermouth should be kept upright, like spirits. Once opened, keep chilled. Like any fortified wine, Vermouth is sensitive to oxygen, which impairs its aromatic bouquet and its flavour. Refrigeration slows the process of oxidisation.
