Yzaguirre Vermouth Selection 1884 Vermouth Reserva

Yzaguirre Vermouth Selection 1884 Vermouth Reserva is named for the founding year of Bodegas Yzaguirre in Catalonia and represents the pinnacle of their vermouth production. Over 80 botanical varieties undergo two full months of maceration before the blend is transferred to small old oak barrels for two years of aging, a commitment that sets it well apart from standard vermouth reserva bottlings and places it among the most serious expressions of Spanish vermouth made today. Bottled in limited runs of around 6,000 bottles every three years, this is a collector's vermouth as much as it is a bartender's workhorse. Bodegas Yzaguirre has operated in the Tarragona region of Catalonia since 1884, and the house built its reputation on slow, methodical vermouth production in a country where vermouth culture runs deep. The two-year barrel aging in small old oak casks is central to the 1884 profile, yielding a deep mahogany color with warm amber glints earned through extended contact with the wood. Where most vermouths rest for a matter of months, this extended maturation integrates the botanical maceration with oak tannins and oxidative notes, producing a structure closer to amaro or sherry than to the lighter aperitif vermouths common in the category. At 20% ABV, the 1884 sits closer to the liqueur end of the spectrum, with enough body and bitterness to stand on its own. The nose opens with concentrated herbs and dried spice, followed by subtle balsamic undertones from the oak. The palate is structured and layered, with oak, aromatic herbs, and warm spice weaving through a rich, full body. The finish is long and distinctly bitter, with the kind of complexity that lingers and rewards attention rather than washing away quickly. It is best enjoyed simply: cold over ice with a slice of orange to lift the bitterness, or neat at room temperature alongside dark chocolate or espresso, where the roasted and herbal notes mirror and amplify each other. In cocktails, it brings enough structure to anchor a Negroni or Manhattan variant without losing character to other ingredients. Yzaguirre Vermouth Selection 1884 Vermouth Reserva is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.