Yzaguirre Reserva Red Vermouth
Yzaguirre Reserva Red Vermouth is the red aperitif of the Tarragona house at Reserva strength — 36 proof (18% ABV), 1L, mahogany red, aged twelve months in oak barrels that give it the consistency and character the Classic red does not carry. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 18% (36 proof)
- Size: 1L
- Style: Red reserva vermouth
- Base: White wine (the Yzaguirre range is built on Macabeo)
- Aging: Twelve months in oak barrels
- Origin: El Morell, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain (Bodegas Yzaguirre, founded 1884)
The Reserva Red: A Year of Oak in the Glass
The difference between Yzaguirre's Classic Red and this Reserva is written in the specs: three extra points of alcohol and a full year in oak. That year is what turns an everyday aperitif mahogany-deep and velvety, layering wood over the house's secret herb-and-spice blend — a formula the El Morell bodega has guarded since Enrique de Yzaguirre founded it in 1884. The house also reaches for this bottle in the kitchen, seasoning meat and game stews, shellfish paella, desserts and pastry. Pour the comparison yourself from our liqueurs collection, or line up the tiers on the Yzaguirre vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Mahogany red. Palate: Highly aromatic and velvety, with woody, herbal and spicy notes suggesting ripe fruit; the opening taste is flavourful and balanced against its acidity. Finish: Long, with the range's citrus lift on the way out.
How to Enjoy
The producer's aperitif serve: a long drink with a few drops of Campari, ice, an orange slice and peel, and fresh mint — or take the vermouth hour neat over ice and let the oak year speak for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Reserva Red different from Classic Red? Strength and time: the Reserva is 18% with twelve months in oak and a velvety, wood-influenced profile; the Classic Red is 15% with no stated ageing — the everyday bottling.
Is the base wine red? No — like the rest of the Yzaguirre range it starts from white wine (the range's base is Macabeo); the mahogany red comes from the botanical blend and its year in oak.
Can you cook with it? The producer suggests exactly that — it seasons meat and game stews and shellfish paella, and turns up in desserts and pastry.
Mahogany, velvety, oak-year deep — order Yzaguirre Reserva Red Vermouth online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.