Not Your Grandfather's Vermouth

In continuing with the Spanish theme of posts this week, I thought I would highlight another of my favorite discoveries from Spain: Vermouth. Regardless of Madrid losing out on hosting the 2016 Olympic Games today the city is still an exciting, innovative, and vibrant combination of old world European charm combined with modern day elegance.


The Mercado de San Miguel, located in Madrid's city center, perfectly combines the feeling of a traditional old world market updated for the 21st century. It was here that we discovered the joys of Vermouth. A beverage that by its' very name suggest stodgy old drinking holes filled with men puffing cigars. In the Mercado de San Miguel however, we discovered Vermouth is anything but stodgy. The bar in the market served the Vermouth out of stainless steel taps, over ice, and with a sliver of orange peel. The result was a drink that was smooth, crisp, refreshing, and pretty much classier and cooler than anything else I have drank since.

How elegant would these drinks look at a dinner party? Simple, classic, so old world that it's new again. You can't get much better than that. Plus, when people ask you what it is, you can respond: "Vermouth. On the rocks with a twist of orange." I like the way that sounds.