Ultimate Beverage Challenge 89 points – The nose is full of limes and minerals, promising refreshment. The flavors are spot on with bright lemons, lime zest, chamomile and orange blossom. An earthy green leaf flavor contributes to the very dry finish..April/2016 | Vermouth is an aromatized wine made from a neutral dry white basic wine which is then blended with an infusion. The infusion~ which gives each vermouth its unique and distinctive character is created by flavoring the basic wine with a special selection of herbs, flowers, fruit peels, seeds, plants, and other botanicals. The addition of brandy fortifies the vermouth to 18% alcohol by volume. The prized and closely guarded recipe is used to make Boissiere has not changed since 1854. |

| Vermouth is a fortified, aromatized wine; the ingredients are wine, herbs and plants, grape spirit and sugar. The practice of aromatizing wine dates back to the Ancient Greeks. This was formerly done to mask poor wine, or as later to add extra complexity to something already good. It also proved to be an effective form of early, homeopathic medicine. Right up until the 20th century, doctors regularly prescribed Vermouths and aromatized liqueurs for all manner of illness, and many people continue to take a glass per day for medicinal reasons. The process chez Dolin begins with purchase of base wine, always white, light in alcohol (10% by volume), and as neutral as possible, both on the nose and palate. To this is added a selection of herbs and plants, which are left to macerate several months. The exact recipes are a closely guarded secret, but there are up to 54 different plants used, most notably wormwood, but also hyssop, camomile, genepi, chincona bark and rose petals. The aromatized wine is then lightly sugared, to less than 30 g/l for the Dry and 130 g/l for the Blanc and Rouge. The color of the Rouge does not come from red base wine, which is unsuitable for elegant Vermouth, and instead comes from the particular plants used, and from sweetening with dark, caramelized sugar. Finally, the Vermouths are fortified – up to 16 for the sweeter styles, and 17.5 for the Dry. Chamberyzette is made with the addition of a juice of wild strawberries from the Alps and fortified to 16 alcohol. |

Ultimate Beverage Challenge 87 points – Skewed toward the savory, aromas are reminiscent of briny olives and cured lemon peel. Dry and minerally in the mouth, orange flesh and zest are partnered with subtle green herbs to create a refreshing profile..April/2016 |

Punt e Mes is a legend on its own. The story goes that back in 1870 a stock broker, caught up in a debate with a few colleagues at Bottega Carpano, ordered a vermouth laced with half a dose of quina liqueur using a Piedmont dialect expression: “Punt e Mes