Dolin Dry Vermouth

Rating: 15/23 Nose: Tart, savory, mineral, dry, with citrus fruit. There's an intriguing complexity swirling here that I'm sure would be diminished in a cocktail. It smells richer than Noilly Prat Dry, which I consider a positive. Palate: It's dry with some fruitiness (green apple, green pineapple, pear, citrus?) introducing a touch of sweetness. I also detect a savory quality. There's a mineral-like stony water flavor with some herbal bitterness and a hint of pepper. This tastes more complex than my initial impressions. I'm really enjoying it now. In terms of both overall profile and complexity, this is significantly superior to Noilly Prat Dry. Finish: Dry, somewhat fruity, and bitter. It's akin to the aftertaste of a Granny Smith apple diluted slightly, with savory, spicy, and mild herbal elements added. Cocktail: Martini, naturally I'm preparing a martini with Plymouth gin. At a 3:1 ratio, it comes across as a bit strong. It makes a good martini that nicely highlights the complementary flavors of the gin and vermouth, but it contains a bit too much vermouth. However, I'm quite certain this combination is better than one with Noilly Prat Dry, as this offers more savoriness and spice, while Noilly Prat is more tart-sweet and fruity. I approve of this in a martini, though it's not groundbreaking. - Conclusion - This is an improvement over Noilly Prat Dry. I believe this is the first dry vermouth I've genuinely enjoyed. It has a pleasant profile with a decent level of complexity suitable for a martini. I'm not adept at rating vermouth due to limited experience. I'll give it a try, though. It doesn't seem lower than a 12 or higher than a 16. Perhaps (perhaps) a 17. That's a broad range, but I'm working with it. I'm currently leaning towards a 14 because, ultimately, I wouldn't drink this neat, and I feel my gin is sufficient on its own (this isn't providing a major enhancement). Hmm, this is growing on me, so I think it might be in the 13 to 16 range now. Alright, trying a 6:1 martini, this truly enhances the Plymouth. I'm not certain I've found the ideal ratio, but I'm confident this is excellent in a martini. A 13 is no longer a possibility. I'm likely looking at a 14 or 15, though a 16 is still conceivable. It's a 15.

I finished a bottle of this yesterday and wanted to share my thoughts. I purchased this based on recommendations from both acquaintances and the staff at my local shop. I was not disappointed. I made Martinis with this using three different gins, and each was superb. I also drank it neat and was pleasantly surprised by its excellent taste, and it performed wonderfully in cooking as well. Having tried this and Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth, I still favor Noilly Prat, but this one is also excellent. You can't go wrong with either choice. As I mentioned, I tried this with three different gins: Roku, Drumshanbo, and Rabbit Hole Aged Gin. (That last gin isn't listed yet, but if you can find it, buy it.) They all create very fine drinks. The flavor of the vermouth complements these gins beautifully, as well as almost anything else I've paired it with. You can't go wrong with this one.

Dolin dry vermouth sets the standard for all dry vermouths I evaluate. It's superb in mixed drinks and quite enjoyable on its own. The price is somewhat higher than Noilly Prat (significantly higher when you consider a 1L bottle of Noilly costs $10), but the caliber is difficult to surpass. On the nose, I detect grapefruit zest and pine. It might not have the most potent aroma among dry vermouths, but its palate is where it distinguishes itself. There's white wine vinegar, a hint of citrus, salt, and a jolt of anise. It's bold, followed by a finish that, while quite brief, has a touch of acidity and sweetness. I've likely sampled over 15 dry vermouths, and to date, none have replaced Dolin, especially when considering the cost. A few are very close and might even be slightly superior neat, but Dolin dry's adaptability makes it my preferred choice for dry vermouths.

Lively scents of lychee, rose, anise, white peach, lemon zest, chamomile, and jasmine greet you. It feels full-bodied and smooth on the palate. The taste continues with anise, lychee, white peach, jasmine, and chamomile, joined by bitter orange and marjoram. The finish is long-lasting. 4.00/5.00 – Great (neat)

After tasting this, I realize how inferior the other vermouths I've had at home have been. This is remarkably smooth, so much so that I could almost imagine drinking it straight. I will never purchase a lower-quality vermouth again.

Dry and crisp with a distinct wine flavor, tartness, and mineral undertone. Only slightly bitter in the aftertaste. More flavor/character than Noilly Prat extra dry, which helps it perform better in cocktails.