An essential part of any bartender’s repertoire, vermouth plays an integral role in cocktail creation – something bartender Leonardo Leuci has paid homage to with this authentic vermouth brand. Meet Del Professore Vermouth di Torino G.I Rosso – a gift to the modern bartender.
In 2013, bartender Leonardo Leuci [of Rome’s Jerry Thomas Project] had two clear and carefully crafted missions: to reinvent the icons of the past by reigniting the lost production techniques of the ‘Golden Age’ of cocktails, and to inspire bartenders around the world to develop their passion for mixology. Enter Del Professore Vermouth di Torino G.I. Rosso.
To understand the driving inspiration behind the brand, we have to travel back to the 1800s to meet one of the cocktail world’s most influential figures – Jerry Thomas. Considered the father of American mixology, Thomas’ trailblazing work behind the stick remains relevant to bartenders 200 years later, with his revered books and iconic cocktail recipes continuing to influence the work of 21st-Century mixologists. His nickname, ‘The Professor’, has now been further immortalised with its Italian translation front and centre of each bottle of Del Professore.
To realise this vision, Leuci embarked on a research mission that took him all the way to the home of vermouth, Piedmont in northern Italy. This is where in the 1700s the bartender staple – Vermouth di Torino – was born, made using Italian grapes and infused with a symphony of the finest local herbs and spices. The fortified wine’s importance in cocktail culture was quick to take hold, starting with its popularity as an 18th-Century aperitivo in Torino, through to its global presence in the present day, where it continues to be a versatile tool for the modern bartender.
Del Professore’s Vermouth di Torino G.I. Rosso authentically embodies the unmatched quality and noble tradition of those first liquids; a product of extensive research into the history and heritage of one of Piedmont’s greatest exports. It follows the established high standards of the Disciplinare del Vermouth di Torino G.I, utilising entirely Italian wine and Piedmontese artemisia to guarantee the best possible product for bartenders around the world to use.
Using a base of red and white grapes and a handful of spices, this vermouth is soft on the palate and sings of balsamic notes, while aromas of wormwood, bitter orange and spice play on the nose. It can be used as part of a bartender’s cocktail repertoire or enjoyed simply chilled in a wine glass with a garnish of citrus zest.
While this Vermouth di Torino G.I. Rosso recipe is true to the traditions of vermouth making, Leuci has also captured his own fervour in this liquid. Combining craftsmanship with creative flair, Del Professore offers bartenders a true quality product that will inspire their own creativity when it comes to cocktail making. It’s a gift to fellow bartenders: be sure to take it.
Negroni
One of the most globally recognised cocktails, served in a rock tumbler glass
- 1 part Del Professore Vermouth di Torino G.I. Rosso
- 1 part Campari
- 1 part Gin
