Hotel Starlino Rosso Vermouth (75cl, 17%)

A bourbon-barrel-aged Italian rosso vermouth from Piedmont, bottled at 17% ABV. Torino Distillati makes it in Moncalieri using a wine base of Trebbiano, Sicilian Ansonica, Catarratto and Marsala wines. Master distillers Denis Muni and Beppe Ronco rest it for 30 days in ex-Kentucky bourbon barrels, a step adopted to give the fortified wine a smooth, spicy character. The nose shows stewed prune, raisin, candied orange peel, herbs, pistachio, wormwood and vanilla. The palate is bittersweet and lean, with macerated red berry, carob, orange and clove spice. It finishes medium in length with orange peel bitterness and quiet bourbon-barrel spice.