Vermouth is a flavored alcoholic drink, distinguished by the variety of types and subtlety of the bouquet. Classic alcohol is usually made from white grape wine and infusion of selected herbs; caramel is used to give dark tones. To appreciate a fortified drink that is durable and resistant to turbidity, it is important to choose the right vermouth.
The right vermouth: the main features
Real vermouths are distinguished by a characteristic wormwood tone, a bittersweet taste and a delicate herbal aroma. For the production of flavored wines, elderberry color, coriander, and orange peels are often used. You can choose the right vermouth based on the strength of the drink, color, tasting properties.
On average, the strength of alcohol on herbs is about 16-18% vol. Wines can be quite sweet (up to 16% sugar) and dry. The addition of caramel in certain proportions can give the drink shades ranging from red to straw.
Martini is a popular type of vermouth infused with dozens of different plant components. Wine palette - from pinkish to deep red. Different types of martini necessarily have a caramel flavor, with certain notes predominating, such as toffee and raspberries, fruits and citrus, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.
To choose high-quality vermouth, it is important to remember: the bouquet of a good vermouth is certainly harmoniously sustained. Low-quality flavored wine is often deep red, too sweet, and has a pronounced aroma. The latter allows unscrupulous producers to kill the taste of bad alcohol. The cork of a good vermouth cannot be moldy (especially from the inside!), It has a brand name on it, for example, the logo of Bacardi-Martini, Noilly Prat, Cinzano, Lillet.
How to use vermouth
Before choosing vermouth, decide in advance what and when it will be served. Often this alcohol is used as an aperitif to increase appetite before meals. Some types of fortified herbal wine are an excellent digistif, a drink after a hearty meal that improves digestion. For this, bitter alcoholic tinctures from a large number of plant components are recommended - bitters (Vermouth Bitter).
The undiluted drink is served chilled to 8-12 ° C, and eaten with olives, salted and roasted nuts. Vermouth is an excellent base for cocktails served over ice. Alcohol can be mixed in a 1: 1 ratio with cognac or vodka, diluted to taste with gin and tonic, soda, lemonade. The main rule when using vermouth is to drink not in one gulp, but in small sips, enjoying the delicate aroma and nuances of the wormwood wine bouquet.
