United States of Vermouth - Son of Man Someday Harvest Vermouth

Origin: Columbia Gorge, Oregon USA

Producer: Son of Man

ABV: 16.%

Wine Base: Cider-based w/ distilled cider

Known Botanicals: 20 different ingredients including fresh orange peel, clove, artichoke leaf, birch bark, cinnamon, sarsaparilla, and chamomile

Sugar: N/A

Look – Slightly cloudy yellow-amber with dull orange overtones.

Nose – Honeysuckle with fennel overtones, a touch of vanilla and orange

Mouth – Sugar and citrus at front of the taste, resolving to light tea-like bitterness – with a touch of tannin – followed by a slight acridness and a fairly long, lingering taste of citrus peel at the end of the taste.

Son of Man Someday Harvest Vermouth is the brainchild of Oregon cider-maker Jasper Smith. He makes a small line of Basque-style ciders (sagardoa) using techniques he learned in cider houses (sagardotegia) in Euskal Herria (the Basque Country). He uses new world apples with old world techniques to craft a simulacra of classic Basque cider. He does a decent job of it, but I’d rather have the real stuff from Astigarraga. But good on ya, Jasper. You’re on the right track.

As to the vermouth in question, it still needs a lot of work. It’s neither a sippable cider, nor does it hit the notes that really even qualify it for a vermouth. – considering he uses some classic and some not-so-classic botanicals that vermouth demands.  Let’s see what further iterations of his “vermouth” will bring.

Taste

Wood / Vanilla 1

Bitter - 2

Alcohol 1

Sweet 5

Creamy 0

Caramel 0

Aromas

Spicy 0

Astringent (barks, roots) 1

Vegetal / Herbal 1

Balsamic 1

Floral 2

Fruity 2