Noilly Prat Sweet Vermouth (75cl, 16%)

A French sweet vermouth bottled at 16% ABV in a 750ml bottle, made with 27 hand-macerated botanicals in Marseillan, southern France. The base wine is made from local white grape varieties, principally Picpoul de Pinet and Clairette. What distinguishes this expression is the dodinage, a hand-stirring maceration process unique to Noilly Prat: over three weeks, a blend of 27 herbs and spices is added by hand to oak casks each day. Botanicals are sourced globally, including sweet orange from Spain, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, cinchona bark from Ecuador, and cloves and cocoa beans from Madagascar. The nose shows dried herbs and warm spices, notably cinnamon and clove, with darker prune, mineral and quinine. The palate is sweet but checked by bitterness from cinchona bark and tart fruit, with blood orange peel, caramelized citrus, ginger, allspice and grapey richness. The finish is long and succulent, with bittersweet highlights and dried herbs.