Leopold Bros x Matthiasson Sweet Wermut
20% ABV (40 proof) | 700mL | Sweet vermouth | Napa Cabernet base, Denver-made — Leopold Bros x Matthiasson Sweet Wermut is a collaboration between Denver's Leopold Bros distillery and Steve Matthiasson of Napa: a base of 100% organic, barrel-aged Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, fortified with peach and pear brandies distilled on Leopold's historic Three Chamber Still, then infused with Grande Wormwood, white pepper, vanilla, green mandarins, Rooibos tea, rose petal, chocolate, ginger root, and Belgian candi sugar. Released April 2025 at $44.99. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
This is sweet vermouth with Napa structure: an incredibly fragrant nose, dense fruit and earthy graphite, a full spectrum of fruit flavors and exotic spices, full-bodied and slightly tannic — stone fruit melding with red berry essences, more bitter than typical vermouths (closest in spirit to Carpano Punt e Mes), closing floral and peppery. Incredibly vinous, with the texture and tannin of a Napa Cab. Among craft vermouths, it's the connoisseur's bottle — a Manhattan or Negroni upgrade that drinks beautifully chilled on its own.
Tasting notes
Nose: incredibly fragrant, dense fruit, earthy graphite. Palate: full spectrum of fruit and exotic spice, stone fruit, red berry, full-bodied, slightly tannic, more bitter than typical. Finish: floral, peppery. (Per brand press release/retailer notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 20% ABV (40 proof) — 700mL
- Base: 100% organic barrel-aged Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (Matthiasson)
- Fortified with peach & pear brandies from Leopold's Three Chamber Still
- Grande Wormwood + white pepper, vanilla, Rooibos, rose petal, chocolate, ginger
- Leopold Bros, Denver, Colorado — April 2025 release
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Chilled neat with an orange twist, or as the vermouth in a top-shelf Manhattan or Negroni.
Frequently asked questions
What is "wermut"?
The German spelling of vermouth — an aromatized, fortified wine. Leopold uses it as a nod to old-world tradition.
How big is the bottle?
700mL — the official tech sheet specifies a limited-release 700mL size, not 750mL.
Is it sweet or bitter?
Both — it's a sweet vermouth with more bitterness than typical, closest to Carpano Punt e Mes in style.
Who are the collaborators?
Leopold Bros distillery (Denver, CO) and winemaker Steve Matthiasson (Napa, CA), whose organic Cabernet forms the base.