Vancouver Island, BC, Canada — mead-based fortified vermouth (17.5% Alc/Vol) using blueberry-blossom honey from BC’s Peace Region.
Rich aromas of plums, figs, sweet oranges, brown sugar and warm baking spices (think cinnamon, clove, perhaps even a subtle cola-like warmth). On the palate, herbal-spice layers of rosemary, star anise or cloves emerge, with a soft sweetness and long, slightly spiced finish. This vermouth shines in classic cocktails — try a Negroni, Manhattan or Martinez — but also holds up well served simply over ice, or topped with sparkling water and a slice of orange or citrus peel.
Esquimalt Vermouth & Apéritifs was founded by botanical-focused craft producers on Vancouver Island. Their “Rosso” is made using a solera-aged botanical extract blend (made from 32 herbs, spices, citrus peels and botanicals) which is then added to their fortified mead base. This technique — inspired by 19th-century vermouth and apéritif houses — gives the vermouth its complex, layered character and consistent quality despite seasonal variations