In keeping with the tradition of The Craft & Co’s distillers pushing new trends and boundaries comes their latest release… a Rosé Vermouth. Perfectly timed with International Rosé Day on Friday, Craft & Co’s Rosé Vermouth can feature in an outstanding martini or Negroni, or poured over ice with a large slice of orange or grapefruit.
Matured in barrels, the Rosé Vermouth is deep copper and garnet in colour and flavour fresh with berry characters, raisins, caramelised figs and a rancio nuttiness. Complex in its aromatics, the mid-palate displays freshly cut orange, Christmas pudding, vanilla and elderflower bringing forward the bitters that structure a long, subtle finish.
An investment into some ex-sherry oak barrels imported from Spain that arrived with some flor’ de Madeira, brought all the pieces to come together. Founder and master distiller Paul Baggio explaines, “The challenge was melding the complexities of flor’ yeasts but enabling more fruit driven freshness and acidity, not the traditional heavy rancio to dominate the style. Creating a style of vermouth that was somewhat more ‘new world’ and Australian was what was sensed the savvy palates of locals would enjoy. The dynamic expression of botanicals is what we see as capturing the attention of the emerging cocktail scene, be it gin, amari or vermouths”
It is an aromatised wine handcrafted from Craft & Co’s estate-grown grapes located in Bangholme (30kms from Melbourne’s CBD), flavoured with distinctive herbs and botanicals including nutmeg, dandelion, quinine, chicory and obviously the essential wormwood.
With its own boutique winery producing some award-winning wines, Craft & Co have access to a range of suitable grape varietals to work with, which certainly assisted the unique pathway to this latest release.
Serving suggestion: The Craft & Co Rosè Vermouth may be married to characterful martini or Negroni, or serve simply over ice with a large slice of orange or grapefruit.
Size: 700ml, ABV: 16%, RRP: $42
Available on sale from The Craft & Co’s website but available from other national retailers very soon.
