A toast to the Cafe Wall Box ought to embrace cafe culture, don’t you think? I suppose that could mean something with coffee, which most people would naturally associate with a cafe. I know the Espresso Martini, a drink from the nineties era, is having a moment or two in the spotlight lately. But I’m in the mood to channel a more European sensibility of the cafe. I love the types of bitter aperitifs and digestifs they like to enjoy in the afternoons in Italy, France and Spain. So let’s have a cafe vermouth.

In Spain, in particular, vermouth has been called a “lifestyle”, because it embodies much more than just the beverage. To “do a vermouth” in Spain means, ‘let’s meet for a drink in the middle of the day’. At many bars and restaurants you will likely find unlabeled jugs of wine infusing with bitter herbs and regional botanicals, the house vermouth. A good vermouth is already a perfect cocktail, which when done well is a balance of spirit, bitter, sweet and sour, after all. Vermouth can contain all of these flavors at once – even umami. It’s very common to add something salty on the side, or in the glass, such as traditional anchovy stuffed Spanish olives. Those plus a hearty wedge of orange set the stage for the start of a lovely afternoon. Cheers!

Cafe Vermouth

2 oz good quality vermouth

Spanish olives

Orange wedge

Pour vermouth over ice and garnish. Simple and perfect.

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