Some afternoons in Piedmont still move slowly, and a glass of vermouth is poured the same unhurried way it was over a century ago. Strucchi's range is built on that patience – three vermouth and one bitter, bottled small enough to taste the whole story before committing to a full bottle.
Expert description
Strucchi Vermouth & Bitter Miniature Set is a collection of four 5 cl bottles from the Italian house Strucchi in Piedmont, made up of three styles of Vermouth di Torino and one Bitter Rosso, with an alcohol content ranging from 16% to 27%.
The name is a tribute to Arnaldo Strucchi, an Italian oenologist who published the monograph Il Vermouth di Torino in 1907. The book laid out how vermouth should be made to achieve a high and consistent quality, and its principles still underpin today's rules for the Consorzio del Vermouth di Torino. The modern Strucchi has taken both its name and its philosophy from him, and it still makes its range in Barbaresco, one of Piedmont's best-known wine villages.
All three vermouth are made from Italian white wine, aromatized with herbs and spices and fortified with alcohol. Bianco is light and floral with citrus and a mild bitterness underneath. Rosso is fuller, with orange peel and spice and a lingering, bittersweet finish. Dry is crisp and dry with a hint of ginger. Bitter Rosso stands apart, built on nine different botanicals including juniper and gentian, with a deeper, more complex character of rhubarb root, cinchona bark and a long finish.
All four spend time macerating and blending before resting for a couple of days so the flavours can settle together, ahead of bottling. The set works both as a quick way into Strucchi's style and as a practical way to keep several building blocks for classic aperitivo cocktails on hand at once.
Tasting notes
Nose
Bianco offers elderflower and wormwood, Rosso smells of orange peel and savoury herbs, while Dry is sharper with a touch of ginger. Bitter Rosso stands out with a deeper aroma of rhubarb and bitter herbs.
Palate
On the palate, Bianco is round with thyme, marjoram and rosemary. Rosso is sweeter and more spiced, with a clear note of orange peel. Dry is fresh and direct, while Bitter Rosso is the most intense of the four, with gentian and cinchona bark giving it real depth.
Finish
The vermouth all close with a mild, dry bitterness, most pronounced in Rosso. Bitter Rosso lingers the longest, leaving a warm, herbal finish built to stand up to ice and tonic.
Serving & Food Pairing
The vermouth are best served cool, around 10-12 degrees, in a small aperitivo glass or a white wine glass. Bitter Rosso can be served the same way over ice or used straight in cocktails. Salted almonds or olives suit Bianco well, while Rosso and Bitter Rosso both work nicely alongside cured ham, hard cheese and other classic aperitivo snacks. This set is made to be used, not left on a shelf – reach for it whenever it's time to mix a drink or simply enjoy a glass before dinner.
Specifications
Name: Strucchi Vermouth & Bitter Miniature Set 4x5 cl
Producer: Strucchi
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Vermouth di Torino & Bitter
Contents: Vermouth di Torino Bianco 5 cl, Vermouth di Torino Rosso 5 cl, Vermouth di Torino Dry 5 cl, Bitter Rosso 5 cl
ABV: Bianco 16%, Rosso 16%, Dry 18%, Bitter Rosso 27%
Size: 4x5 CL
Serving Temperature: 10-12 degrees
Glass Type: Aperitivo Glass
Flavour Profile
Herbal · Spiced · Bittersweet · Fresh · Complex · Round
Did you know?
Arnaldo Strucchi's 1907 book on Vermouth di Torino set out guidelines so influential that its principles are still recognised in today's official rules for the Vermouth di Torino designation – more than a century after it was written.
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