b'sales of Turin vermouth to theVermouth is an attitude. local market. He decided to join forces with the Italian CoraChilling out on a terrace & enjoying brothers, who had foundedthe good timesa company in 1835 and were exporting massive quantities ofAlex Virgili, co-founder of El Bandarravermouth to the United StatesCatalan Vermouthsto be sold on to Italian expat clients. To protect Turins vermouth from potential copycats, Carlo Alberto granted them the first licenses in 1840. In this spirit of international expansion, the Distilleria Nazionale de Spirito de Vino was founded in 1849. In 1860, driven forward by new CEO Alessandro Martini, the distillery became a key player on the global vermouth market. In 1865 (in Dublin) and 1867 (in Paris), his vermouth won many awards, and in 1868 the company exported its first bottles to the United States. In 1879, the Martini company became Martini & Rossi, following the departure of one of its shareholders. It was ultimately due to Martini & Rossi, and Cora, that vermouth enjoyed incredible expansion in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. CLOSER TO HOME THE MAIN CATEGORIES OF VERMOUTH Dry vermouth is an obvious Now that vermouth isname that signifies this fortified experiencing its richestSome European vermouths havewines flavor profile. It is a dry period since its inception, ourbeen awarded POD (protectedversion of vermouth that often particular favourite happensdesignation of origin) status.contains just 5 percent sugar. to be UK based Sacred Spirits. This means that vermouth fromThis style is more notable for its Sacred Vermouths were theChambry can only be madeblend of botanicals that pair so first to be produced in thein Savoie, just as vermouthwell with gin in the martinis that UK, using only English winefrom Turin can only be made inrequire it. from Three Choirs Vineyard.Piedmont.Although wormwood is noAs with all vermouth, dry longer considered a requirement,The two main categories ofvermouth can vary greatly in its Sacred Vermouths are madevermouth emerged from ataste. A good case in point is the using organic wormwood whichstringent classification process: famous brand, Noilly Prat, which is especially grown for them inis considered one of the best. Somerset. It is harvested whenDry Vermouth For several years, the Noilly Prat in full bloom, as this is whenDry Vermouth sold in the USA the bitter agent absinthin is atDry vermouth is also knownwas not as robust as that sold in its highest. Sacred Vermouth isas white vermouth or Frencheverywhere else. Americans just fortified by adding its uniquelyvermouth. It is almost exclusivelydidnt have the desire for such a vacuum-distilled botanicals towhite in color (though it canprofile (Gin martinis were poured the wine. have a yellow tint) and, as noted,with virtually no vermouth). originated in France.8080 INN EXPRESS - DRINKS PORTFOLIO 2019|20 - VERMOUTH & APRITIFS'