Dolin Rouge Vermouth

Rating: 15/23 Nose: Sweet, spicy, rich, somewhat fruity and tart. It smells like a rouge vermouth, but it's definitely a good example. There's that characteristic herbal bitter funk. Palate: Sweet, rich, spicy, and a bit savory. It's bitter with some herbal qualities and light licorice. It's quite sweet, but still very balanced and nicely complex. Initially, I liked this much better than Dolin Dry, but now I see they are quite similar. I detect a faint confectioner's sugar flavor, but it's not an issue. The fruit is reddish, but hard to pinpoint. Finish: Sweet, fruity, a little bitter, and lightly herbal. Still surprisingly sweet. - Conclusion - This appears to be the best rouge vermouth I've encountered so far. I wish it were more robust while retaining this complexity. Still, I'd give it at least a 13, with a maximum of 16. I'm settling on 15. Done.

Dolin dry is likely my preferred dry vermouth, or at least the best value, and a staple in my home bar. As for Dolin rouge, it's acceptable but not nearly as impressive as some others. The aroma is reminiscent of Martini & Rossi's sweet vermouth, with notes of allspice and currants. The palate is quite thin, featuring spice and caramel. The finish is smooth, sweet, and has only a slight bitterness. This bottle is a fairly standard sweet vermouth. It's not unpleasant, just not very captivating. It is, however, quite inexpensive, and if I had to choose between this and Martini & Rossi, I'd lean towards this one, though it's nowhere near as good as Carpano Antica, and I'm not even sure it surpasses another budget option like Cinzano.

I'm just beginning to understand Vermouth as a category and its adaptability in cocktails. I tried this on its own and found it intriguing but a bit thin and underwhelming. I also detect the oregano note mentioned in the official tasting. It's not something I'd drink straight. HOWEVER. This truly elevates any spirit. I recently mixed a Manhattan at home using a few dashes of bitters, one ounce of this, and two ounces of Willet CS rye, and the result was beautiful. Instead of overshadowing the rye, the vermouth notes enhanced its spiciness and added a substantial fruity layer to the drink. This will be a fun bottle to continue exploring. If you have any suggestions for other uses, I'm eager to hear them. Cheers.

As someone from Piedmont and a devoted vermouth enthusiast, my palate naturally leans towards the taste of Vermouth di Torino. So, you can imagine my surprise when Dolin Rouge presented a completely different profile than Italy's most renowned PGI: it's much drier than Italian vermouth, I'd say less full-bodied in an excellent way, boasting a stunning aroma and a pleasant acidity reminiscent of non-fortified wine, making it dangerously easy to drink. Two enthusiastic thumbs up; I'm eager to discover how it will enhance classic cocktails that call for sweet Italian vermouth, lending them a more floral character.

Scents of sweet grape juice and some warming spices. The flavors are as anticipated, very sweet and wine-like. It's a bit overly sweet, but actually pleasant to drink.

This is French, not Italian (as stated in the overview review). It has a clean fruit wine flavor, a lighter body, and is less bitter than some. Good for mixing in cocktails.