While Martini may hold the name sake for a drink related to Dry Vermouth, Dry Vermouth is frequently referred to as French in style. The history of this goes back to the last 1700s where sweet vermouth was first created in Torino, Italy. A few decades later, a fellow by the name Noilly happened to invent the dry version over in France. Given that the French might be the original dry, how does Dolin Dry Vermouth compare to it’s Italian counterpart?
Sight: Practically clear, with a tinge of straw levels
Smell: A pine note runs off the top, but is complimented by a degree of stone fruit and herbs. A mix of bright fruit, flowers, and herbs is muddled together in a strong cacophony of scents.
Sip: A subtle sweetness leads, and then relaxes into a round and moderate sort of body. There isn’t a strong note of brightness here, but there’s a strong mix of herbal notes, pine, stone fruit, and floral components. A bitterness builds in the back of the tongue, balanced with the sweetness in the front palate
Savor: The end has some of the bitter components that lean almost floral or to underripe stone fruit. It also picks up elements of herbs and quinine.
Dolin Dry Vermouth adds some elements of fruit to the standard catch of herbal notes. The flavors here are good, but not quite refined enough to sip on their own. As a cocktail ingredient though, the smoothness from start to end is promising. Dolin Dry Vermouth provides a nice hint of sweetness with just the right level of herbs and flowers.
Verdict: Herbal, Floral, Underripe Stone Fruit, Hint Sweet
Rating: 77
Price: $12
Torino, Italy