Martini Rosso (75cl, 14.5%)

A sweet Italian vermouth from Martini & Rossi. It combines selected wines with a secret blend of botanicals, including local herbs, rare spices and exotic woods. The recipe was developed by Luigi Rossi in 1863. It is bottled at 14.5% in a 75cl bottle without a gift box. Martini & Rossi began as a distillery founded in Turin in 1847. Alessandro Martini and Teofilo Sola took over in 1863 and brought in Luigi Rossi as a partner. Production has been centred in Pessione near Turin since 1864. The nose shows fresh herbs with hints of oregano and juniper, plus floral notes and a touch of caramel. The palate begins smooth, with lively tension and balanced sweetness, then floral notes, citrus and caramel. The finish leaves a clear, pleasantly bitter note.