February 26, 2006
Found: a drinkable spirit
Made a risotto tonight, which requires either a dry white wine or a vermouth. As I grabbed a bottle of Martini&Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth, I saw beside it several versions of Cinzano. You've probably seen the art deco ad posters from the 1900's. They didn't exactly say they were vermouths, but it seemed likely. I checked the bottle of Cinzano Rosso which had a description that made me a bit wary:
Cinzano Rosso is a classic apertif world-wide appreciated for its delicious taste with a uniquely persistent but pleasantly bitter after taste. Its recipe is a well kept secret, based on high quality wines blended with essences of herbs and spices from all over the world. It is still produced according to the original method developed in Italy in the 18th century.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Enjoy Cinzano Rosso neat over ice, or as a refreshing long drink with one of your favorite mixtures such as lemonade, orange juice and tonic or soda water
"Persistent yet pleasantly bitter?" Sounds like Campari, and that is in no way pleasant, in any manifestation.
I bought it anyway.
My sister-in-law just flew in from Sydney. When she arrived I poured us each, as ordered, a splash of Cinzano Rosso neat over ice into a cut glass tumbler. I hear 'Rosso' and I'm thinking red. It comes out looking like uncarbonated Coca-cola. I'm thinking, "ewww this is going to be really bad."
Turns out, it was marvelous. Eminently drinkable. The secret herbs make it "heaty," as Chinese would describe it, but not overly so. It was if at all, barely bitter. Campari is astringent. This Cinzano Rosso was more like a Kir (Creme De Cassis & white wine). Very sippable, yet strong.
I tried to find out more about it online, but the Campari Group (I guess they own the Cinzano brand) only listed some vile cinzano-based soda-beverage targetted at teens. I found this useless and unctuos description elsewhere:
Very dark tawny tone. Heady perfume speaks of overripe grapes, quinine and roots. Agile, tar-like in the mouth as flavors of quinine, citrus peel, roots and berries combine in a piquant twang thats neither clumsy nor cloying. Finishes tasting of ripe oranges and pink grapefruit. Very nice with a splash of fresh-squeezed O.J.
"tar-like in the mouth" ? [rolls eyes] That's like the description of a wine we considered for dinner tonight being noted as having hints of "Saddle Leather."
Neat is good, but i'd like to next try it with some soda. This might become my new alternative to beer, especially when I'm not in the mood to drink with food. The idea of mixing it (or anything) with sickly sweet orange-juice is revolting.
Posted by Nils Blutig at February 26, 2006 11:45 PM | TrackBack