What is the real vermouth and how it should be drunk

Vermouth is considered one of the most romantic and mysterious of alcoholic beverages. The name of this herbal wine with the German translates as "wormwood," although the taste of this pleasant, stimulating appetite product not associated with the bitter plant. Let's take a closer look at vermouth, and know what they are and how to properly drink.

If we consider the vermouth from the point of view of technology, it is a fortified wine obtained by maceration. Simply put, rich in essential oils, herbs, blossoms and leaves are soaked in alcohol and wait until they give the aroma and the taste of the liquid.

The most popular brand of vermouth from Europe

Vermouth first appeared in antiquity, but they were prepared not for drinking, but purely for medicinal purposes. And in the category of alcoholic beverages is a organic wine came only in the 18th century, when foodies got a taste of its unusual pleasant taste and aperitif properties.

First commercial vermouth was first produced in 1786 in Turin distillery distiller Antonio Benedetto Carpano. Since then, the drink began to spread across the planet and used in various combinations. Cocktails with vermouth, which appeared in the second half of the 19th century, opened this wine for all in a new way.

The Italian vermouth label from the early 20th century

In the 19th century there are "Martini", "Negroni" and other well-known brands that exist so far. All over the world are considered classics of French and Italian vermouth, and France spetsializiruyutsya dry white vermouth, and Italy's famous red and sweet.

Italy vs. USSR — each label design has its own charm

The world's most popular Vermouth Bianco, the white vermouth, which can be from 10 to 15% sugar. The Vermouth Rosso sweet red vermouth, which can be more than 15% sugar. There's still Vermouth Rose — interim version between white and red, in which 12 to 15% sugar.

Lately in the market you can find more exotic drinks such as extracookie vermouth, amber varieties, and many others, represent not that other, as the experiments from different manufacturers.

Although vermouth and consist of 75% of the wine, flavor and aroma gives the drink a herbal essence. It is prepared from a large number of plants using different parts — leaves, stems, flowers, buds, seeds and even roots. There are many combinations of plant components, but one is always present in all vermouths and without him nothing is Alpine wormwood.

Of the most popular ingredients of vermouth include cinnamon, cardamom, yarrow, vanilla extract, coriander fruit, elderflowers and nutmeg. When cooking bitter vermouth, the course allowed tansy, Shandra, and even the bark of the Cinchona tree. But in the production of vermouth is considered a creative process and imagination Vinokur here no limits.

Herbal essence difficult to prepare. For this, the components are thoroughly crushed, pour water-alcohol solution and allowed to stand for 20 days in a large slowly rotating vats. This process is called maceration and parts of plants give alcohol essential oils and other components, creating a unique aroma and flavor bouquet of vermouth.

Finished goods warehouse. Italy, early 20th century

But that's not all. The last step in the production of vermouth is the stabilization. It is cooled to -5 degrees Celsius and again subjected to filtration. After all these influences vermouth a week is advocated, but not just so, with a slow increase in temperature from a negative to a room.

When selecting vermouth, many people prefer to trust known brands, for example, Martini and Cinzano. These Italian manufacturers have an impeccable reputation and is known around the world. Of course, there are fakes of these vermouths, which are easy to recognize, with care.

Fake Martini vermouth can give a bottle of rough glass with a dark green tint and the lid, devoid of the gold rim. Fake Cinzano can be distinguished by the absence of "shirts" on the neck under the lid, low quality labels and lack of arms with a lion and shield on the bottle.

You should pay attention to the drink. Suspicion should cause vermouth, on the labels which are mentioned identical to natural flavorings. Best of all, when the manufacturer lists ingredients such as wine, sugar, spirits and infusions of aromatic plants. The less ingredients in the composition of the vermouth, the better.

In fairness I should add that even the French and Italian companies with a century of history in recent years do not hesitate to add their products with synthetic fragrances, but still, if they are in the drink, is not, then this is perfect.

Store the bottle of vermouth should be in a cool and hidden from direct sunlight. If you do not belong to the happy owners of wine cellars, it is best to place the container with the drink in a tight-fitting kitchen cupboard away from heaters and stoves.

If a sealed bottle of vermouth is best kept at room temperature, then open better moved to the refrigerator. It is believed that after opening the bottle of vermouth can be stored for more than a month in a dark cool place or until the sediment at the bottom.

Vermouth considered the drink of elite and sophisticated and it is necessary correctly to pick up not only the dishes, and snacks. Hard cheeses, olives — the classic accompaniment to vermouth, but well suited and more courageous decisions, for example, salted nuts.

Sweet vermouth is best to drink with a fruit skewer made with pineapple, citrus and berries. It should be remembered that the best temperature for any of vermouth, at which the maximum reveals its bouquet of flavors and aroma is between 10 and 15 degrees.

Vermouth drink from a special conical glasses on high legs, or out of the ordinary whisky glasses are made of thick transparent glass. Drink them slowly, savoring and prolonging the pleasure. Perfect vermouth for cocktails, the most popular the simplest of combinations, such as vermouth with the juice in the ratio 1: 2. This cocktail is ideal for dinner and if you comply with the measure, then the pair of glasses drunk in good company, does not affect morning health.

Yes, I have "Martini" in court tried to take away the brand name and think of this Russian producer of sunflower seeds.