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Aperitifs (Wine) - Dubonnet Red
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Dubonnet Red
Dubonnet Company, Bardstown, Kentucky
PROOF: 39.5 (19%)
TYPE: Red
AGE: NA
PRICE: $11.00 750 ml
Notes: Classified as an Aperitif but also used as a mixer like vermouth. Originally sold in 1846 in one of the many attempts to get French Foreign Legion Soldiers (or any other soldiers) to drink their medicine, in this case quinine - for malaria and sundry other fevers - and as many others have the result entered the mainstream society long after the original purpose (other attempts include grog, absinthe, gin and tonics, and a host of Italian Amaros).
Other versions are a Blanc (white) and gold (have not seen in U.S.).
Appearance: Tawny red/gold color, thick edgeline and some legs forming after a bit.
First Impression: Port or sherry like in begining with dry herbs starting to creep in, rosemary, fennel, star anise, orange, angelica, orris root, among others. Think: raisins with herbs.
Taste: More like a Port or sweet sherry than anything else, with the herbs adding depth and complexity, anise (?) rosemary, fennel, angelica, wood and spice aromatics. The finish is long with slightly astringent notes at the end.
Drinks: Also good for a number of other drinks.
Other: Dubonnet is an aromatized wine, and as such it will spoil. Buy a 375 ml (1/2 bottle) unless you use it a lot. Refrigerate after opening and get a new bottle after 2 months or so- you and your guests will appreciate the difference!
Bottle: Very dark green glass with a simple but tasteful label in an almost Napoleanic fashion. Dark color and thickness of glass protect the contents from sunlight.
Final Thoughts:
Website : http://www.doyoudubonnet.com
A quick-loading web page with a lots of cocktail ideas and much less on its actual production.
