I’m working on a new e-book and crossing my fingers that it will be ready for summer. I’ll give you a little hint…there are cocktails involved. :) Cocktails are the most fun and they make me feel like sitting on the back porch in the sun with friends. This one especially.

In the fall of 2019, I became a vermouth-drinker. Before that, vermouth was simply something that my dad bought every December to mix into his holiday martini. It then sat untouched on my liquor shelf until the next holiday martini go-around. Then I went to Spain and discovered that vermouth is a very fun, very delicious spirit that deserves so much more of our attention. We spent a week in Barcelona, eating fat anchovies atop barstools in tiny, hundred-year old restaurants where vermouth is a big thing. In fact, during Spain’s “happy hour”, vermouth is the drink of choice for locals. And it’s good.

A little later that year, I found myself sipping vermouth and campari on my cousin’s front porch and channeling my inner Spaniard and I was completely sold. We drink vermouth now and we’ve never looked back.

let’s talk about vermouth

If I’m being honest, I am still not a vermouth whiz, so all my knowledge comes from internet research and my friends who happen to be liquor experts. Vermouth is a fortified wine. This means it’s wine distilled with a neutral alcohol and flavored with botanicals, like flowers, herbs, spices, and citrus. Vermouth varieties are a vast range, from dry to sweet, white to red, so there’s a lot of experimentation and exploration awaiting us in the world of vermouth.

I’ve said it before on the blog, but I highly encourage you to find a local wine (or spirits store), go there often, and make friends with the people who run it. They will be invaluable to you when trying something new and stretching out of your comfort zone. (My wine guy, JP, knows me better than I know myself when it comes to wine selection and he never steers me wrong.)

If you’re like me (read: not rich), dropping a ton of money on a bottle of liquor that you aren’t sure about yet can be nerve-wracking. So don’t do it. I recommend going to your local spot and telling your knowledgeable spirits connoisseur that a random blog lady said you should try vermouth. Ask them to help you find something that: 1) would be great for both mixing and enjoying on the rocks, 2) that comes from Spain or Italy or France, and 3) won’t break the bank. I’m sure that they will be able to help you find something great. I’m currently drinking a sweet, white vermouth from Italy with lots of floral notes and it’s excellent (especially in this cocktail).

to make the cocktail

This grapefruit thyme vermouth spritz is simple, floral, and a great way to celebrate spring. Thyme simple syrup is made by simmering fresh thyme sprigs with sugar and water. Then, you mix it with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, your brand new bottle of vermouth, and top it off with something sparkly of your choice. It’s bright and light and perfect for those warm backyard afternoons.