Vermouth – The king of aperitivo
We’ve probably all experienced vermouth in different ways. Maybe in a Martini or a Negroni. Or maybe you had your first encounter with a bottle of Vermouth while checking out your friend’s liquor cabinet at that dinner party.
In case you’re not too familiar with this spirit, this post will briefly explain what Vermouth is, its history (we keep it short and sweet, promised!) and how it’s made. For those who are familiar with it, please read on too! We will also tell you a bit more about our range of Swiss Vermouths and our collaboration with Cave Fin Bec.
What is vermouth?
Vermouth is a fortified and aromatised wine. Essentially, it’s sweetened wine blended with brandy, infused with herbs, spices, wormwood and botanicals (such as citrus peel, star anise, basil and thyme). Vermouth’s name derives from “Wermut,” the German word for “wormwood.” Traditionally, vermouth was enjoyed on its own but has become immensely popular in many cocktail recipes. Whether on its own or in a cocktail, vermouth makes for an amazing aperitivo!
Where does vermouth originate from?
Vermouth has been many things to many people throughout its history. Whether it was used as an ancient medicinal remedy by the Greek Hippocrates or drunk as an aperitif by the kings. Vermouth certainly played a big role in creating the aperitivo and cocktail culture. No wonder, Vermouth is often referred to as “The king of aperitivo” or “The king of cocktails”.
The invention of the modern version of vermouth – made with botanical ingredients in addition to wormwood – is attributed to Antonio Benedetto Carpano. He was a herbalist from Turin, Italy. In 1786, he combined herbs with muscatel and sent a crate to King Vittorio Amedeo III, who made it the drink of the royal household. In 1820, Giuseppe Bernardino Carpano, Antonio’s nephew, made the business official and grew it, until brothers Luigi and Ottavio, third-generation Carpanos, set up a factory in 1898 to handle the increased demand for the product. The rest, as they say, is history!
How is vermouth made?
Vermouth is produced by starting with a base of a neutral grape wine or unfermented wine must. Traditionally, additional alcohol and a mixture of dry ingredients, consisting of aromatic herbs, roots, and botanicals, are added to the base (which may consist of wine, wine plus spirit, or spirit only). After the wine is aromatized and fortified, the vermouth is sweetened with either cane sugar or caramelised sugar, depending on the style.
Swiss distillery meets Swiss wine producer – Studer’s collaboration with Cave Fin Bec
Good vermouth calls for good wine. And if a distillery wants to produce the very best vermouth, it requires a collaboration with the very best winemaker in Switzerland.
Distillery Studer and wine producer Cave Fin Bec have joined forces to produce a range of Swiss vermouths that makes no secret of its debt to nature and naturalness. The two companies reject the use of preservatives and artificial flavourings. Fruit brandy, wine and herbs – everything is 100% Swiss. The fruit brandy comes from Escholzmatt and the wine from the Valais. The herbs, with which the vermouth is enhanced, are all indigenous to Switzerland. There truly is no other bottle that contains so much Swissness.
Studer’s range of Swiss Vermouths SI-ON and SI-OFF
SI-ON SEEBRISE / SI-ON SEA BREEZE 16.5% VOL WHITE & SMOOTH
SI-ON Sea Breeze is a fresh, light Swiss vermouth with a summery, fruity flavour. It’s a tribute to the many lakes that dot the Swiss landscape and is based on a cuvée of Chardonnay and Chasselas. It is fortified with fruit brandy and refined with indigenous herbs such as calamus and alfalfa.
Aroma: light & floral, fresh & fruity, juicy & sweet
SI-ON WALDRAUSCHEN / SI-ON WHISPER OF THE WOODS 18.5% VOL RED & SEMI-DRY
A complex and profound red Swiss vermouth with pine needle, leather and wood notes. The aroma and flavour of the Swiss forests in our red vermouth linger unmistakably on the senses. It is based on a red wine cuvée made of Gamaret and Garanoir grape varieties. This is fortified with Swiss fruit brandy and numerous ingredients found in and around the forest, such as spruce needles and nettles.
Aroma: complex & earthy, woody & resinous, needle-like & berries
SI-ON GIPFELSTURM / SI-ON MOUNTAIN STORM 18.5% VOL WHITE & EXTRA DRY
Switzerland boasts hundreds of mountain peaks. And it is to them that we dedicate SI-ON Mountain Storm, with its rugged, almost stony overtones. Its minerality and bitterness testify to the Swiss mountains’ unparalleled rocky character. A Chasselas white wine complemented with extracts of various mountain botanicals, such as gentian or Swiss stone pine wood.
Aroma: mineral & dry, tart & bright, bitter & stony
SI-OFF SEEBRISE / SI-OFF SEA BREEZE 0.0% VOL (WHITE)
SI-OFF Seebrise is an alcohol-free, sweet vermouth. The fruity note of the Chardonnay-Chasselas blend harmonises subtly with wormwood, alfalfa, and flowers of chamomile and elderflower.
Aroma: sweet & fruity
SI-OFF WALDRAUSCHEN / SI-OFF WHISPER OF THE WOODS 0.0% VOL (RED)
SI-OFF Waldrauschen is an alcohol-free, semi-dry vermouth, made from the red wine grape varieties Gamaret and Garanoir, and enriched with bay leaves and bitter spruce needle aromas.
Aroma: semi-dry, woody & pine notes