In the Spirit of Pairing

In the past vermouth was an afterthought in cocktails, used to add a touch of herbaceousness or a pinch of spice to a booze-heavy drink. Vya Vermouth was conceptualized with a different partnership in mind. Complex and aromatic, Vya offers versatility, complexity, and new layers of discovery to the craft of cocktailing.

Vya vermouth starts with a carefully formulated fine wine base, rich in flavor and texture that creates depth when combined with most spirits. The handpicked herbs and spices marry with and elevate an array of different spirits.

Here are some tips on pairing Vya with your favorite spirits:

 

Vya Sweet Vermouth

Whiskey:

Both bourbon and rye marry well with Vya Sweet. The juicy, earthy note in Vya’s base wine pair particularly well with complex, rich, flavorful characteristics of whiskey. The baking spices in Vya­—nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and cardamom—beautifully complement the vanilla, warmed oak and honey characteristics of whiskey. The orange blossom aroma of Vya Sweet adds a seductive and complex layer to any whiskey cocktail.

50/50 Manhattan

• 1.5 oz Vya Sweet Vermouth
• 1.5 oz rye Whisky (or bourbon if you prefer)
• 3 dashes Regan’s orange bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into glassware. Garnish with an orange twist.

 

Tequila:

Reposado and Anejo Tequila partner well with Vya. Plush cherry and subtle hints of orange peel in Vya Sweet elevate the caramel, oak, and butterscotch flavors of these aged tequilas. Vya’s peppery bitterness and viscosity balance out tequila’s finish for a smooth cocktail experience.

Senor Martinez

• 3.5 oz reposado tequila
• 1.5 oz Vya Sweet Vermouth
• 0.5 Canton
• A dash of Agostura bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into glassware. Garnish with an orange twist.

 

Gin:

The balance of sweet and bitter herbs in Vya Sweet makes it an impressive companion to gin. The lush grape characteristics in Vya’s base wine compliment gin’s earthiness. Cinchona bark gives Vya a bitter finish that melds with the gin’s juniper characteristics. Both gin and Vya are quite aromatic and when combined create a symphony of fresh and spicy aromas that intrigue the taste buds.

Negroni

• 1 oz gin
• 1 oz Vya Sweet Vermouth
• 1 oz Campari

Combine in a shaker with ice.  Stir until cold.  Strain into a cocktail coupe.  Garnish with an orange peel.

Vya Extra Dry Vermouth

 

Whiskey:

Vya Extra Dry is rich in body, yet supple in texture. It feels fresh and bright in the palate and elevates the hints of orange, honey, wood and peppery spices in whiskey. The fresh green leaves and dry hay characteristics found in Vya Extra Dry melt into the oak notes of whiskey to create a complex experience on the pallet.

Dry Manhattan

• 2 oz. rye whiskey
• 1 oz. Vya Extra Dry Vermouth

Combine in mixing glass. Stir until liquid is chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist,

 

Tequila:

The peppery, vegetal characteristics in blanco tequila marry quite perfectly with the floral hints and fresh herbaceousness of Vya Extra Dry. Supple and dry, the base wine of Vya Extra Dry enhances the young flavors of the agave plant to create a more robust texture in your cocktail.

Sancho

 

• 2 oz. blanco tequila
• 1 oz. Vya Extra Dry Vermouth
• 0.5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse
• 0.5 oz. simple syrup
• .75 oz. lemon juice

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with Orange Peel

 

Gin:

Vya Extra Dry was created to evoke images of a crisp mountain meadow right after the rain. These flavor characteristics—rose petals, lavender, linden, and green pine—marry with the robust botanicals in gin. You could say Vya Extra Dry and gin are soul mates as they compliment and soften each other. The aromatics of both liquids enhance this meadow like imagery to create a stimulating experience for all your senses.

Wet Martini

• 1 oz. Vya Extra Dry Vermouth
• 2 oz. gin (London dry style preferred)
• 1 dash Orange Bitters

Combine ingredients in a shaker or mixing glass. Stir gently until very cold. Strain into chilled glassware. Garnish with lemon.

 

Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth

 

Vodka:

Delicate and subtle, Vya Whisper Dry, has a hint of soft flowers and herbs that displays a supple sweetness when combined with the subtle grain flavors in vodka, making for a better balanced, softly complex experience. Vya Whisper aromatics impart a subtle forest-like character that layers and elevates the odorless spirit.

Reverse Whisper Martini

• 2 oz. Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 dash Fee Brothers Orange Bitters

Combine ingredients in a shaker or mixing glass. Stir gently until very cold. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a strip of lemon peel.

 

Gin:

Vya Whisper Dry’s subtle herbal character and delicate texture enhance the cucumber and fresh citrus notes in lighter bodied gins.

Corpse Reviver

• 1oz. gin
• 1 oz. Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth
• 1 oz. Essensia Orange Muscat
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1-2 dashes of Absinthe

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

You can find Vya Sweet Vermouth on the Quady Online Store, Amazon or shop a local store near you.

What’s your favorite Vya and spirit pairing?  Let us know in the comment box below.  Cheers!