Red vermouth is a fortified and aromatized wine, known for its rich flavour profile and versatility in cocktails, particularly in classics like the Negroni and Manhattan. Red vermouth, also known as sweet vermouth, is a type of fortified wine that is flavored with various botanicals, including herbs, spices, and roots. It is typically darker in color due to the addition of caramel and has a sweet, rich flavor with herbal and slightly bitter notes. The name “vermouth” is derived from the German word for wormwood, one of its traditional ingredients.
The production of red vermouth begins with a base of neutral grape wine or unfermented wine must. This base is then fortified with additional alcohol, often brandy, and aromatized with a proprietary blend of botanicals. Common ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, citrus peel, cardamom, chamomile, juniper, and, of course, wormwood. The exact recipe varies by producer, contributing to the unique flavor profiles of different brands. After the wine is aromatized, it is sweetened to varying degrees, resulting in the characteristic sweetness of red vermouth.
The Lustau Vermut (Spanish for Vermouth) is crafted from an Amontillado, dry and nutty, and a Pedro Ximénez, sweet, intense, and velvety, aged following the “Solera y Criaderas” system. Along with a careful selection of 10 botanicals infused separately, Vermut Rojo Lustau achieves a perfect balance, where the high quality of its wines takes the lead. Its exceptional quality is widely recognized; its distinctive, flavourful, and slightly sweet character sets it apart.
This Vermut Rojo is red mahogany in colour with reddish hues. Sweet aromas of ripe fruit mingle with hints of citrus fruit and herbaceous notes, over a smoked wood base. On the palate it is flavoursome, velvety and balanced. A bitter finish, with a delicate and distinctive nutty aftertaste. Drink it straight over ice, or use this to make a sensational Negroni.
