Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth Review

Noilly Prat Original Dry’s Robe

• Hue: Golden yellow
• Clarity: Unctuous
• Viscosity: Mild

The robe reminds me of a dark golden yellow with a mild viscosity. The liquid is not very thick or oily in the glass, even though we have to remember that this is much closer to a wine than it is to a distilled spirit. This makes for a much lighter character, even though there’s sugar added.

Noilly Prat Original Dry’s Nose

• Notes: Chamomile, bay leaf, raisins
• Nosefeel: Mentholated, Eucalyptic

A gorgeous, charming floral burst strikes the nose. I scent chamomile right away, swiftly followed by whiff of spicy paprika, a green, funky and rather interesting mix coming off of the glass right away. White pepper is next in the olfactory peacock’s fan, transcending to lovage and sorrell, as well as bay leaf and thyme.

The typical wormwood note is restraint at the beginning. Unlike other typical dry vermouths, where the wormwood is much more prominent on the nose, offering a cucumber-esque or even pickle brine sensation, the Original Dry offers a more complex impression. It’s not solely dominated by a fresh, wine-focused fruit-and-bitter-interplay, but rather shines through its rich, deep and unctuous style.

A shy reminiscence of caramel, similar to floral acacia honey rounds of the scent portfolio and graciously counterbalances a citrus-laden freshness. There’s orange and pink grapefruit, buddha’s hand as well as Meyer lemon zest.

Noilly Prat Original Dry’s Palate & Mouthfeel

• Primary Taste: Salty
• Mouthfeel: Oily
• Opening:  Lemon peel, thyme, floral honey
• Heart: Chamomile, bitter wormwood, rancio
• Finish: Long [white pepper, raisin, rosemary]

The overture is marked by a fresh, lively blast of mellow, floral honey with a sprinkle of thyme on top. Even rosemary and a Mediterranean herb and sea salt seasoning is there. Once again, I’m intrigued by a beautiful combination of sweet chamomile, counterbalanced by a more ethereal, citrusy nuance.

And then, the wormwood kicks in, giving me some of that bitterness and umami note, which carries the gustatory ensemble to a very long finish, with piquancy in the long aftertaste. The finish is another reassurance of the overall complexity and harmony of this Noilly Prat.

The vermouth sits at 18% alcohol by volume, revealing just enough oomph and bass to support the flavorsome richness. Both scent and taste offer an abundance of maturity and oxidative notes, but without overshadowing the base wine and its primary fruit characteristics. It acts more as an underlying foundation for the overall signature of this intriguing sip.

How To Drink Noilly Prat Original Dry

One thing’s for sure: this is a stunning sip all by itself. Even though few people usually drink Noilly Prat straight but I want to reassure you that it is just a gorgeous wine, worthy of its own aria. Whether you pick the Original Dry as your food pairing wine or just as a soloist, you can not go wrong.

As a matter of fact, Noilly Prat has become the vermouth of choice for chefs in the kitchen, and it’s a must-have for all bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts.

My recommendation would be to try it neat in a standard white wine glass and then slowly progress to deglazing your pans and pouring it into your Dry Martini Cocktails.

Noilly Prat Original Dry Cocktail Suggestions

As mentioned above, Noilly Prat is a very versatile companion. However, we can also suggest the following cocktails with it:

1. Dry Martini
2. Perfect Manhattan
3. Vermouth and Tonic
4. Chrysanthemum

Speaking of, the Dry Martini cocktail is the uber classic when it comes to using Noilly Prat Original Dry. Even if you like your Martinis on the dry side, I highly recommend trying a 1:1 wet Martini, giving the vermouth a chance to shine in all its glory.

Alternatively, you could just pour it as a long drink with a splash of bitter lemon, ginger ale, or tonic water over ice.

Best Pairings With Noilly Prat Original Dry

When it comes to pairing recommendations, either a handful of blanched almonds or plain walnuts will go beautifully with a glass of vermouth.

If you have the opportunity, go to Marseillan, visit the production facilities from Noilly Prat, and grab some fresh oysters, which are a local specialty of the region. The combination of fresh oysters with the Original Dry is a match made in heaven. A great vegetarian alternative would be green olives.

I truly love to enjoy certain cigars with this Noilly Prat, because it brings a wonderful combination of sweetness, elegant minerality and freshness. Thus, it keeps your palate engaged, which is an important aspect to consider with cigar beverages. An elegant, medium-bodied smoke from the Dominican Republic is my choice, like the La Galera Churchill from Jochy Blanco’s Tabacalera Palma.

Overall Experience & Value For Money

The packaging and bottle design is unique and distinct. The slim, long 1-liter bottle has become an icon for most people, especially with its bespoke green color.

A fresh, vibrant look with just enough golden ornaments for decor.

Other than that, since the Original Dry is a very affordable product, it does not need flashy, fancy packaging. Most people just grab this off of the shelf and use it right away in the kitchen, behind the bar, or to pour a glass neat.

Closing Thoughts

When thinking about a dry vermouth to add to your liquor cabinet, there’s hardly a way around Noilly Prat’s Original Dry. This is the benchmark for the category. If only more people would also recognize and appreciate it for the fantastic wine it is.

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources:

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