I like martinis and Manhattans, so I accepted an offer to sweet and dry vermouth made by T.W. Hollister & Co.
Handcrafted in Santa Barbara County, California, the vermouth is named Oso de Oro ($37) and is 18 percent alcohol by volume.
“Sourcing local ingredients whenever possible—even foraging native botanicals from our family ranch—not only falls in line with our company’s locally minded ethos but also furthers our intent for each bottle to be a reflection of the land our family has called home for generations,” Co-Owner Clinton Hollister said in a statement. “We want every bottle of Oso de Oro vermouth to celebrate the unique characters of California and embody the spirit of the west coast.”
The red (sweet) version is made from 19 local botanicals, blood orange, chamomile and Hummingbird Sage. You can detect notes of citrus and vanilla in the red vermouth, which also has the right amount of bitterness.
I tried the included recipe for a Manhattan, which calls for a reverse quantity of two parts vermouth to one part rye (I used bourbon). If you like vermouth, this is the way to go. (Or, you can have it on the rocks with a twist, the way Andie MacDowell’s character in the movie “Groundhog Day” ordered it.)
The dry vermouth is made from a blend of 12 botanical ingredients, including orange peel, chamomile and wormwood. Upon my first sip, I sensed some floral attributes. In fact, when I combined the vermouth with gin for a martini, the vermouth reminded me of another refreshing aperitif wine called Lillet (a good thing).
As has been reported, aperitifs are making a comeback, and T.W. Hollister & Co. has done a commendable job putting out two products that are flavorful and versatile. The vermouth will soon have national distribution, but for now, you can order it online.
