In the Drôme Provençale, where the sun bakes the orchards and the air smells of ripe peach, three drinks industry veterans from the Cognac region set out to build an aperitif around fruit rather than herbs.

Expert's Description

Artonic Nectarine is a French Appetizer made from beet alcohol infused with nectarine juice from Provence and bottled at 12%. Behind the bottle is Maison Artonic, founded by three experienced drinks professionals with roots in the Cognac region who wanted to build an aperitif range centred on fruit rather than the classic herbs and bittering agents.

Nectarine is made with nectarine juice from Provence, cane sugar and beet alcohol, resulting in a rounded, sun-ripened aperitif with a pronounced stone-fruit character. It's designed as an alternative to classic herbal vermouth — easier to drink, yet complex enough to carry a cocktail.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe orchard nectarine, fruity with a touch of blossom.

Palate

Mild, sweet and gently tart nectarine flavour, rounded on the palate.

Finish

Long, sweet and fruity, closing on notes of ripe stone fruit.

Specifications

Distillery: Artonic
Region/Country: Drôme Provençale, France
Type: French Appetizer
ABV: 12%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3242614003016
Serving suggestion: Over ice, topped with soda water, or as the base of a cocktail

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Floral · Gently tart · Sun-ripened

Did you know?

Artonic was created by three people from the Cognac industry who wanted to build an aperitif without the classic bittering herbs — instead relying entirely on French fruit, like the Provence nectarines in this bottle.

Just six kilometres from the sea, mandarins and lemons grow thick around Silvio Carta's distillery. In summer, the scent of ripe citrus fills the whole valley, and it is exactly that scent the Carta family has captured in Aspide Spritz.

Expert's Description

Aspide Spritz Silvio Carta is an Italian Aperitivo from Sardinia, bottled at 11% alcohol.

The aperitivo is created through careful infusions of Sardinian citrus and wild botanicals, harvested close to the Carta family's distillery, just a few kilometres from the sea. Aspide is designed to elevate the classic spritz and continues Silvio Carta's tradition, since the early 1950s, of turning the island's raw materials into wine, vermouth and aperitivi.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma recalls a grove of mandarin trees heavy with ripe fruit, fresh and inviting.

Palate

The palate is a burst of fresh citrus juice laced with delicate herbs, mostly dry in style.

Finish

The finish brings a bitter note of blood orange zest that keeps the aperitivo fresh and light.

Specifications

Distillery: Silvio Carta
Region/Country: Sardinia, Italy
Type: Italian Aperitivo
ABV: 11%
Size: 100 cl
Serving suggestion: Mix as a classic spritz with ice, sparkling wine and a splash of soda, ideally with a slice of orange.

Flavour Profile

Citrus, Fresh, Light, Dry, Bitter

Did You Know?

Did you know that Aspide Spritz is bottled at just 11% alcohol, making it one of the lighter aperitivi in Silvio Carta's range, perfect for a long spritz afternoon?

Explore the full range of Italian Bitter and Aperitivo at Whisky.dk.

Deep in the Black Forest, where fir trees cast long shadows over old distilleries, a clear German winemaking tradition unites with one of the region's oldest distilling crafts. Belsazar Dry is the purest, most ascetic member of this alliance - tight, dry and uncompromising.

Expert's Description

Belsazar Vermouth Dry Germany is a German Dry Vermouth at 19%, developed by Maximilian Wagner and Sebastian Brack, who founded Belsazar in Berlin in 2013. The name honours Sixtus Balthasar Schladerer, founder of the family-run distillery in Staufen im Breisgau in the Black Forest, which supplies the fruit brandy used in the vermouth.

The base wine comes from the South Baden wine districts of Markgraeflerland and Kaiserstuhl, and instead of neutral spirit, the vermouth is fortified with Schladerer's own fruit brandy. Twenty botanicals, including wormwood, coriander, gentian and orange peel, are infused individually and then matured in stoneware vessels.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange-chocolate notes, dried apricot and honey meet white grapes, nectarine zest, cinnamon and chamomile.

Palate

Dry and lightly bitter with gentian and quinine, supported by wine-like acidity, coriander, bitter orange marmalade, lemon zest and chamomile.

Finish

The acidity fades alongside gentian and wormwood bitterness, closing with a warming spice note.

Specifications

Distillery: Belsazar
Region/Country: Baden, Black Forest, Germany
Type: German Dry Vermouth
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 cl
EAN: 4260370120012
Serving suggestion: Ice cold as an aperitif, or as the base of a dry Martini

Flavour Profile

Chamomile · Gentian · Bitter orange · Coriander · Bone dry

Did you know?

Instead of neutral spirit, Belsazar Dry is fortified with Schladerer's own fruit brandy, an unusual method that gives the vermouth a distinct imprint of Black Forest distilling tradition.

See our full range of Belsazar Vermouth

As autumn settles over the Black Forest and the last berries on the branches turn darker and sweeter, the mood Belsazar Red tries to capture in the glass takes shape. It is the most complex and spiced member of the German vermouth family, heavy with berries, wood and spice.

Expert's Description

Belsazar Vermouth Red Germany is a German Red Vermouth at 18%, created by Maximilian Wagner and Sebastian Brack, who founded Belsazar in Berlin in 2013. The name pays tribute to Sixtus Balthasar Schladerer, founder of the family-run distillery in Staufen im Breisgau in the Black Forest.

The base wine comes from the South Baden wine districts of Markgraeflerland and Kaiserstuhl and is fortified with Schladerer's own fruit brandy. Twenty botanicals, including wormwood, clove, cinnamon and liquorice root, are infused individually and then matured together in stoneware vessels for up to three months.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, jammy red berries, biscuit and dried fruit meet plum, pine and earthy liquorice with potpourri, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon spice.

Palate

Bittersweet, with raspberry, strawberry and plum jam alongside liquorice, vanilla, orange peel, chocolate, clove and cinnamon spice.

Finish

Bark, jammy fruit and tannins with clove spice and a lingering bittersweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Belsazar
Region/Country: Baden, Black Forest, Germany
Type: German Red Vermouth
ABV: 18%
Size: 75 cl
EAN: 4260370120029
Serving suggestion: Over ice with a slice of orange, or as the base of a Negroni or Americano

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Dark berries · Liquorice · Clove · Bitter chocolate

Did you know?

Belsazar's vermouths are not matured in wood, but in stoneware vessels for up to three months, preserving the pure aromas of the botanicals without any influence from wood.

See our full range of Belsazar Vermouth

In Berlin's creative circles, two friends met the old distilling traditions of the Black Forest, and from that encounter Belsazar was born. The Rosé is the most playful member of the family - bright, floral and filled with summer berries, echoing the South German vineyards the vermouth calls home.

Expert's Description

Belsazar Vermouth Rose Germany is a German Rosé Vermouth at 17.5%, created by Maximilian Wagner and Sebastian Brack, who founded the brand in Berlin in 2013. The vermouth is named after Sixtus Balthasar Schladerer, founder of the family-run distillery in Staufen im Breisgau in the Black Forest, with whom Belsazar collaborates.

The base wine comes from the South Baden wine districts of Markgraeflerland and Kaiserstuhl and is fortified with Schladerer's own fruit brandy rather than neutral spirit. Twenty different botanicals - including wormwood, star anise, cardamom, coriander and cloves - are infused individually before the vermouth matures in stoneware vessels for up to three months.

Tasting Notes

Nose

White grape, raspberry and ripe peach unfold alongside soft herbal notes and a hint of orange blossom.

Palate

A honeyed sweetness is balanced by wine-like acidity, while rose petal, raspberry, pink grapefruit, orange zest and ripe peach emerge with a light touch of clove.

Finish

The finish brings tannic red grape skin, raspberry and clove, rounded off with black pepper and a light, barky bitterness.

Specifications

Distillery: Belsazar
Region/Country: Baden, Black Forest, Germany
Type: German Rosé Vermouth
ABV: 17.5%
Size: 75 cl
EAN: 4260370120036
Serving suggestion: Over ice with tonic and a slice of grapefruit, or as the base of a Rosé Vermouth Spritz

Flavour Profile

Grapefruit · Raspberry · Orange blossom · Rose petal · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Belsazar is named after Sixtus Balthasar Schladerer, who in 1844 took over the Kreuz Post coaching inn in Staufen im Breisgau, laying the foundation for the distillery that today supplies the fruit brandy used in the vermouth.

See our full range of Belsazar Vermouth

Between the vineyards of Baden and the dense fir forests of the Black Forest lie the sources Belsazar draws from. The White is the gentlest, warmest member of the family - like a late summer evening where honey and vanilla slowly melt into the warmth of spice.

Expert's Description

Belsazar Vermouth White Germany is a German White Vermouth at 18%, created by Maximilian Wagner and Sebastian Brack, who established Belsazar in Berlin in 2013. The vermouth is named after Sixtus Balthasar Schladerer, founder of the family-run distillery in Staufen im Breisgau in the Black Forest.

The wine is sourced from the South Baden districts of Markgraeflerland and Kaiserstuhl and fortified with Schladerer's fruit brandy. Twenty botanicals - including vanilla, cardamom and orange peel - are weighed and infused individually before the vermouth matures in stoneware vessels for up to three months, preserving the pure character of the botanicals.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, white grapes and peach meet green apple and orange zest, spiced with almond, vanilla, clove, cardamom and garam masala.

Palate

A light sweetness of honey and vanilla meets wine-like acidity, bitter orange, an underlying wormwood bitterness and warm festive spice.

Finish

Honeyed with citrus acidity, wormwood bitterness and a closing note of clove.

Specifications

Distillery: Belsazar
Region/Country: Baden, Black Forest, Germany
Type: German White Vermouth
ABV: 18%
Size: 75 cl
EAN: 4260370120043
Serving suggestion: Over ice with tonic and a slice of orange

Flavour Profile

Honey · Vanilla · Green apple · Cardamom · Spiced

Did you know?

Each of Belsazar's 20 botanicals is weighed and infused individually in its own demijohn before being blended together - a time-consuming method that gives precise control over the flavour.

See our full range of Belsazar Vermouth

On the label, colours explode like an early-twentieth-century Futurist painting - a visual promise of what awaits in the glass. Bitteroma Bianco is the Carta family's bright, golden answer to the classic Sardinian bitter.

Expert's Description

Bitteroma Bianco Silvio Carta is an Italian Bitter from Sardinia, bottled at 25.3% alcohol.

The bitter is the bright counterpart to the family's Bitteroma range, and its label draws on Italian Futurism, an art movement known for its explosive colours and forms. Like the rest of the range, it is made in Baratili San Pietro in Sardinia, where Silvio Carta has, since the early 1950s, been turning the island's raw materials into wine, vermouth and bitter.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A bright straw-yellow colour with golden reflections, and an aroma of herbs, a hint of honey and soft notes of lemongrass.

Palate

Viscous and explosive on the palate, with a bold flavour that engages the whole mouth and cleanses the taste buds.

Finish

A very long finish that keeps surprising with new layers of herbs and citrus.

Specifications

Distillery: Silvio Carta
Region/Country: Sardinia, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 25.3%
Size: 100 cl
Serving suggestion: Enjoy over ice with a slice of citrus, or use it to add surprise to a spritz or cocktail.

Flavour Profile

Honeyed, Lemongrass, Herbal, Explosive, Golden

Did You Know?

Did you know that the label of Bitteroma Bianco is inspired by Italian Futurism, the art movement that in the early 1900s celebrated speed, colour and renewal?

Explore the full range of Italian Bitter at Whisky.dk.

Years ago, when master distiller Elio Carta had to name the family's new bitter, he settled on a single promise: peace. Bitteroma is Sardinian bitterness at its most reconciling - sharp enough to wake the senses, round enough to bring a table together.

Expert's Description

Bitteroma Silvio Carta is an Italian Bitter from Sardinia, bottled at 25.3% alcohol.

The bitter was created by master distiller Elio Carta, who named it "the bitter of peace" as a tribute to the Sardinian herbs and citrus fruits that give the drink its character. Like the rest of the family's range, it is made in Baratili San Pietro, where Silvio Carta has, since the early 1950s, been turning the island's wild plants into wine, vermouth and bitter.

Tasting Notes

Nose

An overwhelming aroma of aromatic herbs - rosemary, thyme, sage and eucalyptus - joined by orange peel, tamarind and cloves.

Palate

Dry yet enveloping, with a decisive and inviting taste and an incisive, pronounced bitterness.

Finish

A very long finish of citrus peel that lingers on the palate.

Specifications

Distillery: Silvio Carta
Region/Country: Sardinia, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 25.3%
Size: 100 cl
Serving suggestion: Enjoy over ice with a slice of blood orange, or use it as a key ingredient in a Negroni.

Flavour Profile

Bitter, Citrus, Spiced, Herbal, Intense

Did You Know?

Did you know that Bitteroma has been named "the bitter of peace" by master distiller Elio Carta, as a tribute to the balance between sharpness and warmth in its taste?

Explore the full range of Italian Bitter at Whisky.dk.

There's something about a bottle that has travelled through decades without being opened – a weight of history, Roussillon sunshine and a whisper of cinchona bark that still recalls old pharmacy shelves and café tables. Byrrh Vin-Aperitif carries that legacy into every glass.

Expert's Description

Byrrh Vin-Aperitif is a French aromatised wine aperitif from Thuir in Roussillon, made from red wine, mistelle and cinchona bark, with an alcohol strength of 17%. The aperitif was created in 1866 by brothers Simon and Pallade Violet, two cloth merchants from Thuir who spotted an opportunity in the era's wine boom and developed a tonic spiced with cinchona bark, initially sold as a health remedy through pharmacies to sidestep the strict competition rules governing aperitifs at the time. The trademark was registered in 1873, and the name Byrrh is said to derive from a code on a fabric sample card. Between the world wars, Byrrh became one of France's best-selling aperitifs, and by 1935 it accounted for more than half of the French aperitif market. Since 1977, Pernod Ricard has produced Byrrh in the historic cellars in Thuir, part of which were designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel.

The base is dry red wine from Roussillon, primarily made from Carignan and Grenache grapes, blended with mistelle and infused with crushed cinchona bark and spices such as cinnamon, bitter orange peel, gentian, chamomile and cocoa, before the blend is matured in large oak casks for several years.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Port-like on the nose, with dark dried fruit, caramel and a light bitter herbal tone.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied and rich with coffee, cocoa and a distinct bitterness from the cinchona bark.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering bitterness and warm spice.

Specifications

Distillery: Caves Byrrh
Region: Thuir, Roussillon, France
Type: Aromatised Wine Aperitif
ABV: 17%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled over ice with a slice of lemon, or as the base of classic cocktails such as the Trocadero.

Flavour Profile

Port-like · Bitter · Cinchona Bark · Coffee · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Byrrh appeared as an advertising sign in several classic films, including Alfred Hitchcock's Rich and Strange from 1931 and Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan from 1998.

In Turin, where the Piedmontese hills cast long shadows over the vineyards, a brand new spirits category was born in 1786. Spices from distant shores met local wine, and the result was a sweetness edged with darkness — a recipe that still guards its secrets.

Expert's Description

Carpano Antica Formula is an Italian Vermouth made to the original 1786 recipe and bottled at 16.5%. The bottle carries the name of its creator, Antonio Benedetto Carpano, who in Turin crafted what many consider the world's first sweet vermouth. The recipe survived war and changes of ownership until Fratelli Branca Distillerie acquired the Carpano house in 2001 and uncovered an old document believed to be one of Antonio Benedetto Carpano's original formulas.

Under the motto "Novare Serbando" — renew by preserving — the distillery has since held onto the same herbal bouquet and the same spices, saffron among them, that built the vermouth's reputation. The base is Italian white wine infused with a long list of mountain herbs and spices. The colour is amber-red with a hint of rust, and the nose carries the pronounced vanilla note Carpano is known for across its entire range. Antica Formula is today considered the benchmark for a classic Negroni and also features in cocktails such as the Americano and the Hanky Panky.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla meets spice, citrus peel and dried fruit like raisins and cloves — a bouquet that's hard to mistake for anything else.

Palate

Round and full-bodied with bitter orange, dates, cocoa beans and a touch of saffron for a gentle spiced bite.

Finish

Long and warm, with the vanilla lingering last.

Specifications

Distillery: Carpano
Bottler: Fratelli Branca Distillerie
Region/Country: Turin, Italy
Type: Italian Vermouth
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 37.5 CL
EAN no.: 8004400076247
Serving suggestion: Over ice with an orange twist, or as the base of a Negroni, Americano or Hanky Panky

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Spiced · Vanilla-forward · Bittersweet · Aromatic

Did you know?

When Niccolò Branca went through old papers after acquiring the Carpano house in 2001, he found a box containing a handwritten recipe still believed to be the closest surviving link to Antonio Benedetto Carpano's original 1786 formula.

There's something about an old Carpano label that brings back the whole story of Turin's coffee houses and stockbrokers. The dark red bottle with the wrapped-around label and the old gold seal isn't just a drink — it's a piece of Italian bar history from the days when you ordered your vermouth with hand signals.

Expert Description

Punt e Mes is a Vermouth Amaro from Carpano in Turin made from white wine infused with herbs and cinchona bark, with an alcohol content of 16.5%.

This bottle isn't the current version you'll find on any liquor store shelf. The label with its golden seal "Esportato in 82 Stati" and the text "Fondata in Torino nel 1786" belongs to an older bottling from when the Carpano family itself still ran production, before the brand was acquired by Fratelli Branca of Milan in 2001. The 1 liter format and the embossed detailing on the label make it a genuine find for anyone who collects old Italian spirits bottles rather than simply drinking from them.

The story behind the recipe itself dates back to 1870, when a stockbroker at Carpano's bar in Turin asked for his usual vermouth with an extra "half measure" of bitter cinchona bark added — in the local dialect, "punt e mes", a point and a half. The name stuck, and the recipe with over 40 herbs and spices, including orange peel and cinchona bark, remains largely unchanged today.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Herbaceous and lightly bitter, with a touch of orange peel, dried spices and a hint of caramel from the sweet white wine base.

Palate

Sweetness arrives first, quickly followed by the characteristic bitterness of cinchona bark. Notes of dark chocolate, cloves and ripe dark berries emerge along the way.

Finish

Long and bittersweet, with a final touch of orange peel and a dry, herbaceous close.

Serving & Food Pairing

Punt e Mes is traditionally served ice cold — the label itself carries the instruction "Si beve freddo". Serve it over ice with a slice of orange, or use it as the base in a Negroni or Americano. For food, it pairs well with dark chocolate, aged cheeses or salted nuts, where the bitterness ties the flavours together.

Specifications

Name: Punt e Mes
Producer: Carpano
Region/Country: Turin, Italy
Vintage: Non-vintage (NV)
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 100 CL
Sugar Content: 230 grams per liter
Serving Temperature: Cold, preferably over ice
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: 2 x Tumbler glass included

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbaceous · Sweet · Spiced · Citrus

Investment Potential

Medium. This older 1 liter bottling with the original Carpano family label from before the 2001 Fratelli Branca acquisition is no longer produced in this form, and large-format bottles of historic Italian spirits brands are regularly sought after by collectors.

Did You Know?

The gold seal on the bottle reading "Esportato in 82 Stati" reveals that at the time, Carpano was exporting its vermouth to 82 countries — one of the early signs that the small bar in Turin had long since grown into a global name.

In the old streets of Turin, where the story of vermouth was first written, a recipe still divides the city's residents between the sweet and the bitter side of the same glass. Punt e Mes was born from a stockbroker's witty order and remains one of Italy's most recognisable aperitifs, true to its bold original character.

Expert's Description

Carpano Punt e Mes is an Italian Vermouth of the vermouth chinato style, based on white wine with 16% alcohol, produced by Fratelli Branca Distillerie in Turin.

The story dates back to 19 April 1870, when a stockbroker in Carpano's wine shop in Turin, caught up in a discussion about share prices that had risen a point and a half, ordered his usual Carpano vermouth but asked for it to be topped with half a measure of quinine bitter - described in the local dialect as punt e mes. The name stuck, and the drink became a classic.

Punt e Mes was produced by the Carpano family until 2001, when Fratelli Branca Distillerie of Milan acquired the brand and continued the recipe of more than 40 herbs and spices, including orange peel and quinine bark.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers ripe dark fruit such as prune and cherry, supported by quinine bark, cloves and a hint of tobacco leaf.

Palate

The palate opens sweet with honeyed plum and orange, before the quinine bark and bitter botanicals arrive with clear notes of clove and dark coffee.

Finish

The finish is long and round, with well-balanced bitterness from the quinine bark meeting a residual sweetness and dried orange zest.

Specifications

Distillery: Carpano
Region/Country: Turin, Italy
Type: Italian Vermouth – Vermouth Chinato
ABV: 16%
Size: 75 cl
EAN no.: 8001710100129
Serving suggestion: Serve over ice with a slice of orange, or use as the base in classic cocktails such as the Milano-Torino and the Manhattan

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Orange Peel · Quinine Bark · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Did you know?

According to a 1916 testimony, Punt e Mes was the favourite drink of Giovanni Agnelli, founder of the car maker FIAT, who often enjoyed it at Carpano's wine shop in Turin.

A hillside in inland Alicante, where abandoned vineyards have been brought back to life, and where a small elder bush in the courtyard lends its name to a vermouth full of white blossom and citrus.

Expert's Description

Celler La Muntanya Vermouth Saüc Blanc is a Spanish white vermouth made from the white Malvasía grape, bottled at 15% ABV. The vermouth comes from the small winery Celler La Muntanya in Muro d'Alcoy in the province of Alicante, founded in 2004 with the aim of reviving old, abandoned vineyards around the Sierra Mariola mountains.

The winery runs the Microviña project, seeking out and bringing small, forgotten vineyards and native grape varieties back into production. The Saüc vermouth follows a recipe dating back to 1890, and more than 40 wild botanicals from the Sierra Mariola mountains are added to the base wine - including elder, called saüc in Catalan and Valencian, which lends its name to the whole vermouth series. The elder is grown in the winery's own courtyard.

Tasting Notes

Nose

An explosion of white blossom and citrus fruit with a hint of mountain herbs.

Palate

Fresh and floral with a distinct citrus character carried by the many botanicals.

Finish

Short and refreshing, with a light, herbal bitterness.

Specifications

Distillery: Celler La Muntanya
Region/Country: Alicante, Spain
Type: White vermouth
ABV: 15%
Size: 75 CL
EAN number: 8437009285688
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled over ice, ideally with a twist of citrus peel.

Flavour Profile

Floral, Citrus-forward, Fresh, Herbal, Native grapes

Did You Know?

Saüc is the Valencian and Catalan word for elder, and the plant that gives the vermouth its name is grown in the winery's own courtyard alongside more than 40 other wild botanicals from the Sierra Mariola mountains.

Shop our full range of Celler La Muntanya vermouth at Whisky.dk.

A black bottle with faded red and blue on the label. This is what a bottle of vermouth looked like long before Cinzano became a global cocktail-bar standard – back when the name was still tied to a small confectionery shop in Turin, not a factory.

Expert's Description

This Cinzano Vermouth is a vintage collector's bottle from Francesco Cinzano & C. in Turin, Italy, bottled in a one-litre format.

The Cinzano name dates back to 1757, when brothers Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano Cinzano ran a small confectionery shop in Turin and experimented with distilling, infusing and sweetening wines with alpine herbs. The recipe quickly earned recognition, and by 1786 the Piedmontese court had named the brothers its preferred supplier of Vermouth Rosso. Over time, the business grew from a confectionery shop into an internationally recognised wine house under the name Francesco Cinzano & C., a name this bottle's label still bears witness to, from a period before the brand became part of a global group.

Tasting Notes

This bottle is a vintage collector's item and is regarded primarily as a piece of history rather than a bottle meant for drinking today. As the condition of its contents after decades cannot be verified, we're not providing specific tasting notes for this particular bottle.

Specifications

Distillery: Francesco Cinzano & C.
Region: Turin, Italy
Type: Vermouth
Size: 1 litre
Edition: Vintage collector's bottle, label style points to the 1950s

Investment Potential

As a genuine vintage collector's bottle with no printed vintage year, and a label carrying its own patina, this Cinzano bottle is drawing growing interest from collectors of vintage spirits and bar memorabilia. The bottle dates from an early period in the history of Francesco Cinzano & C., before the brand became part of a global group, making it a rare piece of vermouth history. Its investment potential is assessed as medium, as the bottle could rise further in value as a collector's item, though concrete auction data for this specific example doesn't exist.

Flavour Profile

Vintage, Rare, Historic, Collector's Item

Did You Know?

The Cinzano name comes from two brothers who originally ran a confectionery shop in Turin in 1757 – long before the company became synonymous with vermouth and, later, global cocktail culture.

Golden light from the hills of Piedmont, a hint of cinchona bark and orange peel in the glass – the taste of an aperitif whose recipe hasn't changed in over a century.

Expert's Description

Cocchi Americano Bianco Vermouth is an Italian aromatised white wine from Piedmont, fortified and flavoured with cinchona bark, gentian and citrus, bottled at 16.5% ABV.

The vermouth was created in 1891 by Giulio Cocchi, a young pastry chef who established his business in the town of Asti in north-western Italy. After blending the botanicals, the wine is left to marry for a year before bottling, a process unchanged since the recipe's creation. Today, Giulio Cocchi is run by the Bava family, themselves distinguished producers of Moscato d'Asti.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear, honey-roasted fig, elderflower, peach, a touch of bell pepper, sultana and orange marmalade.

Palate

Full and lightly spiced, honeyed yet tart citrus fruit with a bitter edge of gentian.

Finish

Honey and citrus rounded off by a fresh, tart marmalade note.

Specifications

Distillery: Giulio Cocchi
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Vermouth
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 75 CL
EAN no.: 8007117010061
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled over ice with a twist of orange peel, or as a substitute for discontinued Kina Lillet in a classic Vesper Martini.

Flavour Profile

Bitter, Citrus, Honeyed, Herbal, Elegant

Did You Know?

Cocchi Americano Bianco is widely regarded by bartenders as the best substitute for the long-discontinued Kina Lillet, which is why it features in James Bond's famous Vesper Martini from Casino Royale.

See our full range of Cocchi here.

In the hills outside Turin, where Piedmont's vineyards meet the golden light of evening, Cucielo Bianco was created as a bright, floral interpretation of Italy's aperitivo culture. Here, fresh herbs and white wine come together in a glass that celebrates moments when time is allowed to fly.

Expert's Description

Cucielo Vermouth di Torino Bianco is an Italian Vermouth based on white wine with 16.8% alcohol, produced at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri, Piedmont.

The brand was founded in 2018 by Andy Holmes, CEO of Artisan Spirits, working alongside master blender Carlo Vergnano, with Bianco and Rosso as the house's first two releases. The name Cucielo combines the Italian words cuculo, cuckoo, and cielo, sky.

Cucielo Bianco is made following the techniques underpinning the Vermouth di Torino designation, recognised as a protected EU appellation in 2017.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers crisp green apple, elderberry and vanilla, with light floral and herbaceous tones alongside a hint of maraschino cherry, bitter orange and raisins.

Palate

The palate is warm and soft, sweetly rounded with vanilla and ripe summer berries, balanced by a pleasant bitterness and notes of chamomile and citrus zest.

Finish

The finish is smooth and refreshing, with a lingering sweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Cucielo
Region/Country: Moncalieri, Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Vermouth – Vermouth di Torino Bianco
ABV: 16.8%
Size: 75 cl
EAN no.: 8003230002662
Serving suggestion: Serve over ice with a slice of citrus, or use as the base in light cocktails such as the White Negroni

Flavour Profile

Apple · Vanilla · Floral · Citrus · Soft

Did you know?

Cucielo Bianco and Rosso both launched in 2018 as the brand's first two releases, before the Dry expression followed in 2022, created specifically for the classic Martini.

In the hills outside Turin, where Piedmont's vineyards meet the golden light of evening, a vermouth was born to celebrate Italy's aperitivo culture. Cucielo Dry is made for moments when time is allowed to fly, with a recipe that bridges old-world craftsmanship and a new generation's taste for the crisp and bitter.

Expert's Description

Cucielo Vermouth di Torino Dry is an Italian Vermouth based on white wine with 18% alcohol, produced at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri, Piedmont.

The Cucielo brand was founded in 2018 by Andy Holmes, CEO of Artisan Spirits, working alongside master blender Carlo Vergnano. The name Cucielo combines the Italian words cuculo, cuckoo, and cielo, sky, inspired by the cuckoo's annual migration across Italy. Following the success of Cucielo Rosso and Bianco, the house launched a dry expression in 2022, created specifically for the classic Martini.

Cucielo Dry is flavoured with, among other botanicals, Aloe Ferox, sweet and bitter orange peel from Calabria, elderflower, dried Sicilian lemon peel and cardamom, and is made following the techniques underpinning the Vermouth di Torino designation, recognised as a protected EU appellation in 2017.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is dry and refreshing with fresh Sicilian citrus, light herbal bitterness, elderflower and cardamom.

Palate

The palate offers crisp green apple, bittersweet citrus, elderflower, fresh ginger and warm spices.

Finish

The finish is exceptionally long and mineral.

Specifications

Distillery: Cucielo
Region/Country: Moncalieri, Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Vermouth – Vermouth di Torino Dry
ABV: 18%
Size: 50 cl
Serving suggestion: Serve dry in a classic Martini, or with tonic and a slice of citrus

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Herbal · Mineral · Dry · Spicy

Did you know?

Cucielo's mascot is a cuckoo named Chuck, dressed in a pilot's cap and scarf, honouring the bird's annual journey from West Africa to Scotland and back along the full length of Italy.

In the hills outside Turin, where Piedmont's vineyards meet the golden light of evening, Cucielo Rosso was created as a tribute to Italy's aperitivo culture. Here, old-world craftsmanship meets a new generation's love of rich, characterful flavours in a glass of red wine infused with herbs and spices.

Expert's Description

Cucielo Vermouth di Torino Rosso is an Italian Vermouth based on white wine with 16.8% alcohol, produced at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri, Piedmont.

The brand was founded in 2018 by Andy Holmes, CEO of Artisan Spirits, working alongside master blender Carlo Vergnano, with Rosso and Bianco as the house's first two releases. The name Cucielo combines the Italian words cuculo, cuckoo, and cielo, sky.

Cucielo Rosso is made following the techniques underpinning the Vermouth di Torino designation, recognised as a protected EU appellation in 2017, and won gold with 95 points at the IWSC Singapore 2019.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers caramelised orange and rhubarb, supported by delicate notes of vanilla, anise and cloves, alongside warm, peppery nuances and raisins.

Palate

The palate is brilliantly smooth with bursts of fresh pomegranate and ripe red fruit, combined with a slight bitterness.

Finish

The finish is warm, long and dry.

Specifications

Distillery: Cucielo
Region/Country: Moncalieri, Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Vermouth – Vermouth di Torino Rosso
ABV: 16.8%
Size: 75 cl
EAN no.: 8003230002679
Serving suggestion: Serve over ice, or use as the base in cocktails such as the Negroni and the Americano

Flavour Profile

Orange · Rhubarb · Spicy · Berry · Round

Did you know?

Cucielo Rosso won a gold medal and 95 points at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in Singapore in 2019, just a year after its launch.

Where others see waste, Discarded sees an opportunity. Coffee cherry's discarded husk and fortified wine that has rested in used whisky casks meet here in a sweet vermouth with a story all its own.

Expert's Description

Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth is a sweet vermouth made from a fortified wine base, bottled at 21% ABV. The vermouth comes from Discarded Spirits, a project started by the Scottish family-owned drinks company William Grant & Sons, with the aim of creating spirits from ingredients that would otherwise be thrown away.

Discarded was born in 2018, when an employee at the company was handed a bag of cascara - the dried husks of coffee cherries, normally discarded during coffee production - and challenged to do something interesting with it. The solution was an infusion of cascara in neutral spirit, later blended into a fortified wine base. That fortified wine is itself a byproduct of whisky production, used to season casks before they take on whisky, and is repurposed here rather than being discarded.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe cherries and strawberries with a hint of dark chocolate.

Palate

Sweet and fruity, with notes of red wine and a touch of fig.

Finish

Long finish with cinnamon and a light bitter coffee note from the cascara.

Specifications

Distillery: Discarded Spirits
Region/Country: Scotland, United Kingdom
Type: Sweet vermouth
ABV: 21%
Size: 50 CL
EAN number: 5010327656014
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat over ice or long with tonic.

Flavour Profile

Fruity, Cinnamon-spiced, Coffee-forward, Sweet, Sustainable

Did You Know?

Both key ingredients in this vermouth started life as waste products - the cascara is the discarded husk of the coffee cherry, while the base wine is fortified wine that had spent its working life seasoning casks for whisky production.

Shop our full range of Discarded vermouth at Whisky.dk.

In Chambéry, white wine meets orange peel, elderflower and mountain pine, and the result is a vermouth that manages to feel both substantial and light at once.

Expert's Description

Dolin French Blanc Vermouth is a White Vermouth from Chambéry in Savoie, made from white wine and flavoured with more than 30 alpine herbs, with an alcohol content of 16%.

It follows the same recipe the house of Dolin has used since 1821, when Joseph Chavasse settled in Chambéry and began infusing local white wine with alpine plants and spices. The Sevez family, who have owned and run the house since 1919, still hold to this traditional method through several generations. The Blanc style differs from the house's dry vermouth with a gentler sweetness and a broader range of citrus and floral notes, drawn from the same alpine herbs that grow around Chambéry, a town that in 1932 received France's only protected designation of origin for vermouth.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich orange citrus aromas and a light toffee-like sweetness, joined by almonds, orange peel and spicy bark with a touch of menthol and pine forest.

Palate

Delicate and lightly sweet, balanced by the white wine's acidity, with notes of pear, pineapple, citrus and elderflower alongside a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish

A well-balanced finish between bitter, sweet and acidic, with lasting notes of elderflower and citrus peel.

Specifications

Distillery: Dolin
Region: Chambéry, Savoie, France
Type: White Vermouth
ABV: 16%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3274510003708
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed on the rocks with an orange slice, or as the base of a Vermouth Cassis.

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Floral · Lightly Sweet · Herbal · Alpine

Did you know?

Dolin is the only independent vermouth house left in Chambéry, the town that has held France's only protected designation of origin for vermouth since 1932.

See our full selection of Dolin

High above Chambéry, the Alps rise into thin mountain air, and wormwood and other alpine herbs cling to the rock, soaking up sun through the short summer. It is these plants that give Dolin Vermouth Dry its clean, dry character.

Expert's Description

Dolin Vermouth Dry is a Dry Vermouth from Chambéry in Savoie, made from white wine and flavoured with more than 30 alpine herbs, with an alcohol content of 16%.

Dolin was founded in 1821 by Joseph Chavasse, who had already been running a liqueur distillery near Mont Blanc since 1815. Inspired by the aperitifs of Turin, he created a new vermouth with a secret recipe of white wine from Savoie infused with a wide range of alpine plants and spices. In 1843 Louis-Ferdinand Dolin married into the family and gave his name to the house, and since 1919 the Sevez family has carried the tradition forward through several generations as an independent, family-owned house. In 1932 Chambéry became the only town in France to receive a protected designation of origin for vermouth, and Dolin is today considered the oldest and last independent vermouth producer remaining in the town.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and light aromas of citrus peel, menthol and balsamic notes, underscored by lychee, grape juice, almond and a touch of pine forest.

Palate

Gentle sweetness with tropical, almost lychee-like notes, giving way to drier, herbal nuances and finishing on a bitter clove note.

Finish

Medium length and dry, with lingering herbal notes, a light warmth, a whisper of nuttiness and white pepper, closing on a clean, faintly chalky minerality.

Specifications

Distillery: Dolin
Region: Chambéry, Savoie, France
Type: Dry Vermouth
ABV: 16%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3274510003753
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed on the rocks with a lemon twist, or as the base of a classic dry Martini.

Flavour Profile

Herbal · Citrus · Dry · Mineral · Alpine

Did you know?

Chambéry is the only town in France where vermouth has its own protected designation of origin, a status it has held since 1932.

See our full selection of Dolin

Above Chambéry the Alps rise into thin mountain air, and up among the rocks hyssop, wormwood and juniper stand soaking up sun through the short summer. Every glass of Dolin Vermouth Rouge carries an echo of those mountains.

Expert's Description

Dolin Vermouth Rouge is a Red Vermouth from Chambéry in Savoie, made from white wine of the Ugni Blanc grape and flavoured with 30-40 alpine herbs, with an alcohol content of 16%.

Dolin was founded in 1821 by Joseph Chavasse, who had already been running a liqueur distillery near Mont Blanc since 1815. Inspired by the aperitifs of Turin, he created a new vermouth with a secret recipe, infusing Savoie white wine with hyssop, wormwood, juniper and a long list of other alpine herbs. In 1843 Louis-Ferdinand Dolin married into the family and gave his name to the house, and since 1919 the Sevez family, who still own and run the business, have carried the tradition forward through several generations. The Rouge style stands apart from the house's other vermouths through its deep amber-red colour and fuller, spicier character, even though the base remains the same white wine from the Ugni Blanc grape.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruit compote, prune and walnut, with a hint of fresh grass, spiced with cinnamon, vanilla and szechuan pepper, alongside fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary and a touch of orange peel.

Palate

Almond, citrus, pear and violet, carried by herbal notes of wormwood and chamomile, a mild honeyed sweetness and a light bitterness from gentian root, rounded off by ripe stone fruit such as apricot.

Finish

Long and pleasantly dry, with lingering herbal notes, a light peppery spice and a hint of tannic, tea-leaf-like grip that closes clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Distillery: Dolin
Region: Chambéry, Savoie, France
Type: Red Vermouth
ABV: 16%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3274510003760
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed on the rocks with an orange slice, or as the base of a Manhattan or Negroni.

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Herbal · Amber-Red · Alpine

Did you know?

Dolin still uses a white wine made from the Ugni Blanc grape as the base for its Rouge, with the red colour coming purely from the flavouring rather than from red wine.

See our full selection of Dolin

Down on the slate slopes of the Saar valley grows a Riesling known across the world of wine. At Ferdinands, it takes on a whole new life as the base for a dry, herb-scented vermouth.

Expert's Description

Ferdinands Saar Dry Vermouth is a German dry vermouth made from Riesling from the Saar valley, bottled at 18% ABV. This dry vermouth from Ferdinands is the world's first vermouth infused with a distillery's own quality Riesling from the acclaimed German wine region Saarburger Rausch.

Ferdinands was created through a collaboration between Andreas Vallendar, master distiller and owner of Avadis Distillery in Wincheringen-Bilzingen, and Dorothee Zilliken from the renowned wine estate Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken in Saarburg. Avadis Distillery traces its roots back to 1824, and today Zilliken's Riesling from the classified slate vineyard Saarburger Rausch serves as the base wine for the vermouth. Regional herbs are added to the dry vermouth, including wormwood, which lends a cleansing bitterness to the floral aroma profile, resulting in a vermouth that's ideal for a classic Dry Martini.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Floral and mineral, with a touch of wormwood's cleansing bitterness.

Palate

Dry and herbaceous, with a distinct acidity from the Riesling and a light spiced warmth.

Finish

Light and elegant, with lingering mineral notes from the Saar valley's slate.

Specifications

Distillery: Ferdinands / Avadis Distillery
Region/Country: Saar Valley, Germany
Type: Dry vermouth
ABV: 18%
Size: 50 CL
EAN number: 426070191723
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed in a classic Dry Martini or over ice with a slice of lemon.

Flavour Profile

Dry, Mineral, Herbaceous, Elegant, Riesling-driven

Did You Know?

Ferdinands Saar Dry Vermouth is the world's first vermouth based on a quality Riesling - the grapes come from the classified slate vineyard Saarburger Rausch, otherwise known for some of Germany's most celebrated white wines.

Where the dry style is crisp and mineral, Ferdinands' white vermouth unfolds with a softer, spicier character - shaped by months resting in old Mosel oak casks.

Expert's Description

Ferdinands Saar White Vermouth is a German vermouth made from Riesling from the Saar valley, bottled at 18% ABV. Like its dry sibling, this vermouth is built on a distillery's own quality Riesling from the acclaimed wine region Saarburger Rausch, but here the wine takes on a different character, having been aged in old Mosel Fuder oak casks before the herbs are added.

The vermouth comes from the same collaboration behind Ferdinands' other products, between master distiller Andreas Vallendar of Avadis Distillery in Wincheringen-Bilzingen and winemaker Dorothee Zilliken of Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken in Saarburg. A selected blend of regional herbs and flowers is added to the base wine, giving the vermouth its characteristic spiced yet floral style, a clear contrast to the tighter, drier expression of Ferdinands' vermouth.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced herbs and meadow flowers alongside the drying notes of white grapes.

Palate

Soft and lightly sweet, with vanilla and a touch of oak from the cask ageing.

Finish

Rooty, herbaceous notes and a lingering minerality from the slate soil.

Specifications

Distillery: Ferdinands / Avadis Distillery
Region/Country: Saar Valley, Germany
Type: Vermouth
ABV: 18%
Size: 50 CL
EAN number: 4260270191778
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed over ice with a slice of apple, or as the base of a gentle highball with tonic.

Flavour Profile

Spiced, Floral, Round, Vanilla-forward, Mineral

Did You Know?

Ferdinands Saar White Vermouth is aged in old Mosel Fuder oak casks - a cask type and size traditionally used to mature some of the Mosel region's finest Riesling wines.

In the hilly landscape of Terra Alta, south of the Ebro river, where the Mediterranean sun bakes the old vineyards, lies the small town of Batea. Here La Madre is born, named after the mother herself, a tribute to the family traditions and herbal knowledge passed down through generations. Every bottle carries that warmth and authenticity forward.

Expert's Description

La Madre Vermouth Rose is a Spanish Rosé Vermouth with 16% alcohol, created by oenologist Josep Maria Castillo in the town of Batea in the Terra Alta region south of Tarragona. The vermouth is made as a small, family-run project, where 32 different botanicals - 22 of them native to the region - are macerated in ceramic amphorae before the wine is added.

The base wine is a blend of white and red grape varieties from Terra Alta, and the pink colour comes from a careful composition of herbs, berries and spices rather than added colouring. The result is a vermouth that combines Mediterranean warmth with a distinct handcrafted character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense aromas of strawberry and liquorice meet citrus peel, cinnamon and a hint of sweet calamus root, giving the nose a rich and aromatic character.

Palate

A rich, velvety texture unfolds with sweet notes of aniseed and strawberry, before the flavour turns gently bitter from wormwood and orange peel.

Finish

The finish keeps its freshness and holds a fine balance between sweetness and bitterness, with orange peel and wormwood lingering long after.

Specifications

Distillery: La Madre
Region/Country: Terra Alta, Tarragona, Spain
Type: Spanish Rosé Vermouth
ABV: 16%
Size: 75 cl
EAN: 642213330583
Serving suggestion: Enjoyed cold with ice cubes and a slice of orange, or as the base of a Vermouth Spritz

Flavour Profile

Strawberry · Liquorice · Citrus peel · Cinnamon · Gently bitter

Did you know?

La Madre's 32 botanicals are first hydrated in ceramic amphorae for 24 hours before the wine is added, after which the blend macerates for a further 30 days - a method that gives the vermouth its distinctive depth.

See our full range of La Madre

South of Bordeaux, in the village of Podensac, the Lillet family has since 1872 blended local white wine with the peel of sweet and bitter oranges. The result is an aperitif that has since found a permanent place behind bars worldwide.

Expert's Description

Lillet Blanc Vermouth is a White Vermouth from the Bordeaux region of France, made from a base of white wine from the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, with an alcohol content of 17%.

Brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet founded the house of Lillet Frères in Podensac in 1872 as wine and spirits merchants, and in 1887 they created their first aperitif under the name Kina Lillet, named after the cinchona bark that gave the drink its characteristic bitterness. The recipe is a blend of roughly 85% Bordeaux wines and 15% macerated citrus liqueurs, made from the peel of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and bitter oranges from Haiti. In 1986 the recipe was adjusted to the milder, sweeter style known today as Lillet Blanc, and production still takes place in Podensac.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and crisp aromas of sweet oranges, almonds and orange peel, with a touch of wax, spicy bark, menthol and sea salt.

Palate

Delicate and lightly sweet, carried by the white wine's acidity, with notes of white fruit, pineapple, citrus and elderflower, joined by nutmeg, cinnamon and a hint of creaminess.

Finish

Well balanced between bitter, sweet and acidic, with a lingering, refreshing citrus note.

Specifications

Distillery: Lillet
Region: Podensac, Bordeaux, France
Type: White Vermouth
ABV: 17%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3057230000253
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled on the rocks with mint and orange, or as the base of a Vesper Martini.

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Floral · Lightly Sweet · Crisp · Elegant

Did you know?

Lillet Blanc is a key ingredient in the Vesper Martini, the cocktail Ian Fleming described in his first James Bond novel from 1953.

See our full selection of Lillet

In 2011, the house of Lillet returned to something it had not touched in more than 50 years: a brand new colour. The result was a pale pink aperitif scented with rose petals and fresh berries.

Expert's Description

Lillet Rose Vermouth is a Rosé Vermouth from the Bordeaux region of France, made from a base of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sémillon grapes, with an alcohol content of 17%.

The house of Lillet Frères was founded in Podensac south of Bordeaux in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. Lillet Rose was created in 2011 as the house's first new colour in over 50 years, and it shares the same base of Bordeaux wines and macerated citrus liqueurs as Lillet Blanc, with a short skin maceration to give it its pink colour, along with a small proportion of Lillet Rouge. The wine is aged for a year in oak casks before being flavoured with orange peel from Spain and Haiti, local fruit liqueurs from southwestern France and a touch of cinchona bark.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Red berries, orange blossom and grapefruit, joined by rose petals and ripe cherries.

Palate

Fresh, lively and fruit-forward, with a clear rosé wine character balanced by a mild bitterness from the cinchona bark.

Finish

Light and refreshing, with lingering notes of berries and citrus and a fine, dry close.

Specifications

Distillery: Lillet
Region: Podensac, Bordeaux, France
Type: Rosé Vermouth
ABV: 17%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3057230000277
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled on the rocks with fresh berries, or topped with soda for a light spritz.

Flavour Profile

Berry · Floral · Fruity · Lightly Bitter · Crisp

Did you know?

Lillet Rose was the first new colour from the house of Lillet in more than 50 years when it launched in 2011.

See our full selection of Lillet

In 1962 Pierre Lillet looked to America and its growing taste for red wine. His answer was a full-bodied, dark aperitif with flavours of ripe berries and a gentle spiced warmth.

Expert's Description

Lillet Rouge Vermouth is a Red Vermouth from the Bordeaux region of France, made from a base of the Merlot grape, with an alcohol content of 17%.

The house of Lillet Frères was founded in Podensac south of Bordeaux in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. Lillet Rouge was created in 1962 by Pierre Lillet, grandson of Raymond, to meet the growing American market for red wine-based drinks. Between 1990 and 1993 the recipe was refined with higher-quality base wines to give it a more complex flavour. Like the house's other aperitifs, Lillet Rouge is fortified with lemon and orange brandies and flavoured with cinchona bark, which gives it its characteristic bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe dark fruits such as blackberry and plum, with depth and a touch of earthiness.

Palate

Full and balanced, with fresh orange, ripe berries, vanilla and delicate spices along with a light richness from the barrel ageing.

Finish

Soft and lightly sweet, with lingering notes of dark berries and a touch of wood and spice.

Specifications

Distillery: Lillet
Region: Podensac, Bordeaux, France
Type: Red Vermouth
ABV: 17%
Size: 75 CL
EAN No.: 3057230000277
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled on the rocks with an orange slice, or as the base of cocktails.

Flavour Profile

Dark Berry · Spiced · Full-Bodied · Fruity · Rounded

Did you know?

Lillet Rouge was originally created in 1962 specifically for the American market, which at the time had a growing appetite for red wine-based drinks.

See our full selection of Lillet

There's something about a yellowed label with faded red and green scrollwork that tells you more than any tasting note ever could. This bottle sat on a shelf long before anyone thought of "bottling date" as a marketing word.

Expert's Description

China Martini Bitter is an Italian herbal bitter from Martini & Rossi made from genuine cinchona bark and bottled at 32%. The recipe dates back to 1887 and remains one of the house's most closely guarded secrets — the exact proportions of herbs, flowers and cinchona bark are known to only a handful of people at the distillery. This particular bottle wasn't bottled in Turin, but under licence by Martini & Rossi Aktiengesellschaft in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, as shown clearly by the "Deutsches Erzeugnis" mark at the bottom of the label. A German licensed bottling like this tells its own story about how Martini & Rossi, in the decades after the war, chose to produce closer to German consumers rather than export everything from Italy. Cinchona bark is the natural source of quinine, and the liqueur has historically been used both as a digestif and, in more folk-medicinal circles, against fever and digestive troubles. On the back of the bottle, the original serving suggestions are still printed in German: neat, with ice and soda water, or with hot water and a twist of lemon peel.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry and herbal with a hint of bitter orange peel, gentian, and a faint medicinal note from the cinchona bark.

Palate

Bittersweet with notes of caramelised sugar, dried herbs, and a sharp citrus edge.

Finish

Long and bitter with a dry, herbal close reminiscent of an old apothecary cabinet.

Specifications

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced · Citrus notes

Investment Potential

Medium – German licensed bottlings of China Martini marked "Deutsches Erzeugnis" surface rarely, and the original recipe and strength were discontinued long ago in favour of today's weaker version. Collectors of vintage Italian bitter liqueurs and Martini & Rossi memorabilia seek out bottles like this one.

Did You Know?

Today's China Martini is only sold at 25% alcohol – so the bottle you're looking at here is noticeably stronger than the version available today.

Please note: This bottle is sold as a collector's item. The quality of the contents cannot be guaranteed, and the bottle may show scratches and marks – see the photo.

There's something about a yellowed label with faded red and green scrollwork that tells you more than any tasting note ever could. This bottle sat on a shelf long before anyone thought of "bottling date" as a marketing word.

Expert's Description

China Martini Bitter Liqueur is an Italian herbal bitter from Martini & Rossi made from genuine cinchona bark and bottled at 32%. The recipe dates back to 1887 and remains one of the house's most closely guarded secrets — the exact proportions of herbs, flowers and cinchona bark are known to only a handful of people at the distillery. This particular bottle wasn't bottled in Turin, but under licence by Martini & Rossi Aktiengesellschaft in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, as shown clearly by the "Deutsches Erzeugnis" mark at the bottom of the label. A German licensed bottling like this tells its own story about how Martini & Rossi, in the decades after the war, chose to produce closer to German consumers rather than export everything from Italy. Cinchona bark is the natural source of quinine, and the liqueur has historically been used both as a digestif and, in more folk-medicinal circles, against fever and digestive troubles. On the back of the bottle, the original serving suggestions are still printed in German: neat, with ice and soda water, or with hot water and a twist of lemon peel.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry and herbal with a hint of bitter orange peel, gentian, and a faint medicinal note from the cinchona bark.

Palate

Bittersweet with notes of caramelised sugar, dried herbs, and a sharp citrus edge.

Finish

Long and bitter with a dry, herbal close reminiscent of an old apothecary cabinet.

Specifications

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced · Citrus notes

Investment Potential

Medium – German licensed bottlings of China Martini marked "Deutsches Erzeugnis" surface rarely, and the original recipe and strength were discontinued long ago in favour of today's weaker version. Collectors of vintage Italian bitter liqueurs and Martini & Rossi memorabilia seek out bottles like this one.

Did You Know?

Today's China Martini is only sold at 25% alcohol – so the bottle you're looking at here is noticeably stronger than the version available today.

Please note: This bottle is sold as a collector's item. The quality of the contents cannot be guaranteed, and the bottle may show scratches and marks – see the photo.

See our full range of Liqueur