by Ray Johnson | Mar 8, 2010 | Aperitif, California, Vermouth
Quady, California, Vya, Extra Dry Vermouth nv The nose combines mint, ginger and a host of spices. In the mouth it is dry and spicy with a reminiscence of quinine’s bitterness – an intense mouth refresher! The grapes are Colombard and Orange Muscat and the...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 4, 2009 | Aperitif, California, Vermouth
Quady, California, Vya, Sweet Vermouth nv What makes this aperitif so exciting is that it is impossible to stop adding descriptors if you start – so I won’t – just buy a bottle, chill it well and serve it over a few ice cubes. Try it first, before...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 16, 2008 | Italy, Vermouth
Cinzano, Vermouth Rosso nv This has proved to be a good value vermouth, not with the intensity of those of Carpano or Quady, but the price is right when you’re on a budget; it’s also more widely available. You could pick this up in most supermarkets around...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 10, 2008 | Aperitif, France, Languedoc, Vermouth
Noilly Prat, Original French Dry Vermouth nv This is always a great example of the complexity of herbs, white wine and fortification; yet the students usually hate it. Tonight a full 25% of the group enjoyed the wine or at least wouldn’t turn it away if served...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 3, 2007 | Aperitif, Italy, Vermouth
Nothing wakes up your palate and straightens me out after a day of coffee drinking like a glass of sweet vermouth. Carpano, Punt e Mes, Vermouth nv Stunning and on a par with the Quady Vya Vermouth; this is very concentrated and not for the faint of heart. It features...
