Smoke and Mirrors is a dry, white vermouth. It's one of the most unique vermouths we've ever made.
We started Smoke and Mirrors all the way back in 2018, with a barrel aged, golden plum cider and a few smoked apples. We smoked the apples with applewood and steeped them in the base for a few years.
The base is apples, plums and Zweigelt wine. The botanicals are sassafras, cinnamon basil, and citrus gem marigold.
What's it like? Not every vermouth takes us 5 years to make, but Smoke and Mirrors was well worth the wait.
It feels like a cocktail all by itself: tannic and sweet sassafras bark with a kiss of smoke reminds us of Scotch and Drambuie (aka a Rusty Nail cocktail).
Thought about it like that, it's perfect on its own—chilled and neat or over a large ice cube. But it also works to mix with.
Cinnamon Basil, Sassafras and Citrus Gem Marigold each add fruit and perceptual sweetness, making that small amount of sugar go so much further.
The dual notes of baking spice and citrus mean it blends well with most spirits: from Amaro Montenegro to Aperol, or even a peaty Scotch.
The smoke is well balanced, it's an important piece, but by no means the entire profile.
Like all vermouths, refrigerate after opening and finish within 30 days once you've started it.
17% ABV | 750mL
Ingredients: Apples, golden plums, grapes, sassafras, cinnamon basil, citrus gem marigold. Gluten free.
Wild ferment. 37.5g of sugar/bottle. Vegan.
