"Cinzano": how to drink vermouth

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The well-known brand of sparkling wines and vermouth "Cinzano" celebrated its 260th birthday in October 2017. On this occasion, a grandiose exhibition was organized in the home of the brand, in Turin, which was held from October 5 to January 14 at the National Museum of the Risorgimento of Italy.

The exhibition showed bottles, glasses and even the first advertising illustrations of Cinzano vermouth. Everyone could visit the museum and trace the history of the origin and development of the Cinzano brand.

Also, on occasion of the solemn event, "Cinzano" launched Cuvée Vintage Alta Langa D. O. C. G. 2009.

A trip to history

And it all started back in 1757 in the city of Turin. Initially, vermouth was used as a tincture for medicinal purposes. Smoothly it turned into an aperitif served in small glasses with a piece of ice.

And just getting into the territoryUnited States, gained wide popularity. It was there that they began to add it to all kinds of cocktails, the most famous of which - "Manhattan" - is popular to this day.

After there was a time of oblivion of vermouth. But in the twentieth century, he again returned to the peak of popularity. The reason for this lies in the fact that people began to drink alcohol before dinner, whereas before it was a taboo in polite society. Since the serving of alcoholic drinks began at 5 pm, the bartenders were looking for a way to serve primarily low-alcohol drinks in order to "keep up appearances" and not cause discontent among the non-drinking population. It was then that they remembered vermouth, which perfectly combined the softness of taste and interaction with all kinds of non-alcoholic drinks with which it was diluted. We can say that with the fashion for cocktails, the fashion for vermouth has returned, one of the best brands of which is Cinzano.

Today Cinzano vermouth is sold in more than 100 countries.

What you need to know about Cinzano vermouth?

Vermouth is a product consisting of 75% wine, enriched by the addition of various herbs, the first of which is artemisia or, to put it simply, wormwood. The combination of herbs is kept in the strictest confidence, as this is exactly what distinguishes Cinzano vermouth from its competitors. Vermouth is usually based on white wines, but recently the addition of reds has also been practiced. The strength of the wine is increased by adding alcohol andsugar, which is made from grapes or raisins.

There are different types of Cinzano vermouth. They are distinguished by color: white, red and pink; and sweetness: sweet, dry and extra dry. Sweet vermouth must have a minimum alcohol content of 14.5%, dry vermouth at least 16% and extra dry at least 18%. Sweet types are usually called dessert.

How to drink "Cinzano"?

Top tip - once you open a bottle, keep it refrigerated and use it quickly.

When and how to drink Cinzano vermouth is best? This can be done both after meals and before it, since vermouth helps to awaken the appetite. That is why it is so popular as an aperitif in all sorts of cocktails.

Serve vermouth most often in cone-shaped cocktail glasses. Less often - in whiskey glasses.

What do they drink Cinzano vermouth with?

Many people prefer to drink pure Cinzano vermouth. Some interfere with juice and vodka. Vermouth "Cinzano" often serves as the basis for various kinds of cocktails. Glasses in which vermouth is served are usually decorated with pieces of fruit. They are the perfect complement to the drink. Also, sometimes ice or frozen fruits are added to vermouth cocktails, which allows you to cool, dilute and simply make the cocktail more attractive. How to drink "Cinzano" - in its pure form or in a cocktail, it's up to you. But according to statistics, 90%vermouth is consumed in cocktails.

White vermouth "Cinzano"

The most popular Cinzano vermouth is white or, as it is also called, Cinzano Bianco. The secret of white vermouth "Cinzano" is the addition of chamomile to its composition, which makes its taste mild. How to drink "Cinzano bianco" so as not to get drunk immediately? Since it has a mild taste, one might mistakenly think that it is not very strong. In fact, the minimum alcohol content in Cinzano Bianco vermouth is 14.5%. Therefore, it is best to dilute it with lemonade, soda or tonic water.

With what to drink Cinzano Bianco vermouth? Best of all, various fruits are suitable, which can be fastened to the edge of the glass, thrown into the drink or served separately.

Red and pink vermouth

Both of these vermouths are sweet. There is no particular difference between them. Both of them were the result of an experiment in adding red wine to traditional white vermouth. Therefore, their most important difference is in color. This drink pairs well with white spirits such as vodka, whiskey, gin and rum. This gives these cocktails an amazing amber hue. As a result, a rather strong drink is obtained, therefore, in order not to overdo it, you need to know how to drink Cinzano Rosso. Experienced bartenders most often dilute such cocktails with tonic and always add ice. Served in whiskey glasses. But ultimately, how do you drink Cinzano, neat or fancy?cocktail, it's up to you.

How to distinguish quality vermouth?

Vermouth "Cinzano" is not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, if you come across a bottle of Cinzano at an exorbitantly low price, then most likely it is a fake. The production of Cinzano wine takes at least 80 days, enrichment and herbal tincture takes about 50 more days, after which the vermouth is filtered, which is another 20 days. Vermouth is often aged in special barrels, and only then it is bottled and put on sale. The time and labor spent on making the delicious Cinzano vermouth cannot be cheap. On average, a liter bottle of such vermouth costs 12-15 euros (800-1000 rubles). The taste of white should be soft, in red it is more monotonous, since it is practically not used in its pure form.