Dolin traces it’s history back to 1821 when vermouth was beginning to boom thanks to Carpano gaining the King of Sardinia’s seal of approval in the late 1700s. Variation began from the original recipe in short order, but stuck to the original formula of aromatic herbs and spice While Noilly Prat was first on the scene in Southern France, Dolin wasn’t far behind with their alpine botanical laced version. The brand is still around today, and Dolin Dry Vermouth is one of the standard bearers for vermouths.
Dolin Dry Vermouth
Sight: A pale greenish yellow with a pale watery edge.
Smell: The nose is clean and lightly spiced with subtle herbal, starfruit or pear, and citrus character. The spice is lightly herbal and with a hint of creamy vanilla and touches of mountain herbs, lemon pith, and air. There’s something mysterious and inviting about the nose.
Sip: The start is bright, rich, and full. It moves gradually thicker, with notes of lemon, herbs, and light spice and vanilla. The brightness carries through the lanolin texture, and gives off various notes ranging from bittering agents to citrus peel. There’s also a subtle wet stone note about it.
Savor: The ending lingers beautifully, giving a wide range of flavor, and a subtle bitterness. The herbal character is persistent.
Years ago I reviewed Dolin Dry Vermouth, and I thought it wasn’t spectacular. The thing is, when objectively looking at this through a wine lens, it’s just ok, but when looking at from a cocktail point of view, it’s dazzling. There are other cheaper vermouth, but they aren’t as clean and not as diverse in their flavor profile. Dolin has a complexity to it that’s interesting and it’s smooth body makes a great pairing for drinks.
In Cocktails
Another thing that Dolin manages to do particularly well is deliver value for the price point. You can buy a bottle of Martini & Rossi for less – but the flavor isn’t there. Vermouth is a critical component in prohibition cocktails and many modern updates, adding complexity and herbal qualities to the cocktails it’s introduced to. For many cocktails that rely on vermouth as one of a limited number of ingredients it’s important to realize that those losses in quality will not be hidden. They will be displayed center stage.
Dolin Dry Vermouth
Looking at both value and flavor – Dolin Dry Vermouth is one of our recommendations for setting up your home bar. If your go to is Martini & Rossi, give yourself an opportunity to branch out and try Dolin Dry Vermouth.
Cocktails with Dolin Dry Vermouth: