Woodinville distillers Erin Brophy and Mhairi Voelsgen (broVo) rely on Washington wine as the base for their vermouth program. Each of their four wine-related expressions starts with Wahluke Slope juice — this being Pinot Noir (75%) with eau de vie brandy at 25 percent. The government prohibits going beyond that. This delicious rosé-style opens with aromas of bright cherry and peach cobbler that are surrounded by hints of cardamom bread, anise and sweet herbs. It’s quite sweet at 6% residual sugar and akin to strawberry jam and candied cherry, but there’s a jolt of pomegranate acidity with lingering cardamom and cocoa to provide tasty balance. In reality, the list of botanicals includes grains of paradise, juniper berry, hibiscus, orange peel, chamomile, sage, tarragon and pink peppercorn. The sweetening agent is agave nectar. Listed is the price for broVo’s standard 187-millilter bottle, and the website offers recipes for Devil’s Gsarden (including rum, spearmint liqueur, raspberries and grapefruit) or a Pink and Soda. Look for them in the southern part of the Woodinville Warehouse District near Finn Hill Winery or around the Puget Sound at Cafe Flora and select stores within Fred Meyer and Total Wine & More.
Rating: Outstanding!
Alcohol: 19%
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