Manuel "Pickled Guindillas" Extra Dry Vermouth (750ml)

Manuel is exactly the sort of producer capable of making vermouth feel new again. Founded in San Sebastian in 2024 by wine professional Clement Cantenys, this independent aperitif project is produced with the team at Destilerias Acha, the historic Basque distillery whose origins reach back to 1831. Manuel Extra Dry takes its inspiration from pickled guindillas, the slender green peppers that are an essential part of the Basque aperitif tradition. The base combines Amontillado, the oxidatively matured fortified wine of Andalusia, with wine made from Airen grapes grown in Navarra, while Roman wormwood supplies the essential bitter foundation required of true vermouth. This is not simply another neutral dry vermouth designed to disappear into a cocktail. It is a thoroughly Basque reinterpretation of the category, built expressly around the region's salty, sour aperitif culture. Bottled at 18% ABV, it can be served well chilled on its own, but its natural home may be alongside gin as a remarkably simple shortcut to a distinctive dirty Martini. For anyone who believes vermouth should contribute as much personality as the base spirit, Manuel is an exciting and genuinely original arrival.