The vermouth encyclopedia

Vermutpedia

Rojo

Penedès

Red · Medium-sweet

Antich Original

Casa Antich (Grupo Vallformosa)

Penedès , España

6.6 /10

Vermutpedia Score: 6.6/10

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Overall impression

Antich Original revives the Barcelona vermouth recipe the house founded in 1850, when Antich proclaimed itself «the city's vermouth» — even predating Badalona's Perucchi. Today part of Grupo Vallformosa, it keeps the Mediterranean spirit of the Barcelona aperitivo: certified organic vermouth made in the Penedès with DO Macabeo and 37 organic botanicals. The red «Original» of the trio alongside the Blanc (no caramel) and the Reserva (one year in American oak).

Nose and palate

Amber with copper highlights; colour from caramelised organic sugar, not artificial dyes. The nose suggests thyme, elderflower, cinnamon, vanilla and other spices, with a memory of oxidative barrel ageing of the base wine before botanical infusion. On the palate, a lively wormwood and herb note combined with balanced sweetness and an elegant, sherry-like finish evoking Eixample terrace vermouths without the toasted density of the Reserva.

How to serve it

Over ice with olives — the classic Barcelona Sunday vermouth service. Also in Americanos or light mixed drinks where a semisweet organic red brings herbaceous character without dominating.

Production context

DO Penedès Macabeo base wine undergoes oxidative barrel ageing before infusion with vanilla, gentian, thyme, wormwood, bitter orange and the rest of the 37 aromatic plant blend. No further wood ageing after bottling (unlike the Reserva). 15% vol., 70 cl. Barcelona's first documented vermouth, today a reference for Catalan vermouth tradition in organic guise.

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