Type Sweet Vermouth | Producer Maison Dolin | Region France > Chambery | ABV 16% | Volume 750 ml | Price (AUD) ~$35
House notes
Dolin Rouge is the lighter, more alpine cousin of Carpano Antica. Made in Chambery with mountain herbs, wormwood, and a gentler sweetness, it gives you a Negroni or Manhattan with more structure and less swagger. Dried flowers, chamomile, orange peel, a soft bitter finish. At around $35 for a 750 ml bottle it is also substantially cheaper than Carpano, which matters if you go through vermouth at any pace. Some bartenders prefer it in a Manhattan because it keeps the whiskey front and centre. Others think it is too shy. Both are right depending on the whiskey.
What it pairs with
The lighter Manhattan, the lighter Negroni, Martinez, Rob Roy (with Scotch), and a chilled pour over ice with soda and an orange wheel for an afternoon aperitif. Food: white-pizza-style pairings, goat cheese with honey, soft herbs, grilled chicken with tarragon, or a simple bowl of pasta with garlic and olive oil. Refrigerate after opening. Good for about four weeks.
About the producer
Maison Dolin has been making vermouth in Chambery, France, since 1821 and holds the Chambery AOC appellation. It is one of the few remaining small, family-owned vermouth houses in Europe, which is why every bartender in Melbourne seems to have a bottle open.