Yzaguirre Classic Blanco Vermouth

Yzaguirre Classic Blanco Vermouth is a Spanish white vermouth produced by the Yzaguirre family in Catalonia, a region whose vermouth-making tradition stretches back to the nineteenth century and defines the aperitivo culture of Barcelona and beyond. This bottling represents the house's foundational white style, built on a base of neutral wine infused with more than eighty botanicals including wormwood, vanilla bean, cinnamon bark, and a proprietary blend of Mediterranean herbs that give the vermouth its distinctly herbal and spiced profile. The straw-yellow color signals a lighter extraction than many vermouths, and the expression is designed to function equally well in classic low-ABV serves and as a standalone aperitif over ice with citrus, the way it is served in vermuteries throughout Catalonia and increasingly in Chicago cocktail bars. Yzaguirre has been family-run since its founding in Reus, Catalonia in 1884, and the current generation still oversees production at the original bodega. The climate of the Tarragona province, warm and moderated by Mediterranean breezes, influences both the base wine and the maceration of botanicals, which takes place in large oak vats that allow the herbal infusion to integrate slowly without extracting harsh tannins. The recipe balances the bitter backbone of wormwood with sweeter spices like vanilla and cinnamon, and the mild balsamic character comes from a selection of Alpine and Mediterranean herbs macerated separately and then blended to the house specifications before a final rest in tank. Yzaguirre exports widely, but the core market remains Spain, where white vermouth is poured over ice with olives and orange peel at bars from Barcelona to Madrid. The nose opens with pronounced herbal and spicy aromatics, led by cinnamon and a subtle vanilla sweetness, and the balsamic notes underneath add a resinous, almost medicinal complexity that keeps the vermouth from tipping into cloying. On the palate, the vermouth is fresh and smooth, with a well-balanced interplay of sweetness and bitterness, and the vanilla and cinnamon threads reappear alongside a light herbal bitterness that lingers through the finish. Serve it chilled as a simple aperitif with a twist of lemon or orange, or build a fifty-fifty Martini with gin and a dash of orange bitters for a lighter, more botanical take on the classic cocktail. It also works beautifully in a white Negroni or any recipe calling for Lillet Blanc, where it brings more structure and spice. Yzaguirre Classic Blanco Vermouth is available at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.