Vermouth…

(EN below)

Egentlig troende jeg, at den søde aperitif vermouth var for gamle damer, eller i hvert fald noget, der hørte hjemme i en fortid, der smagte rivende sødt af de første teenage-branderter. Men måske er jeg ved at blive en gammel dame, for vermouth – har jeg opdaget – er lige noget for mig.

Og her i Catalonien er vermouth måske ikke lige frem en kunstform, men så alligevel næsten, for det er en indgroet del af den katalanske livsstil at drikke vermouth eller “vermut”, ikke mindst søndag eftermiddag. De fleste catalanske beværtninger serverer vermouth, måske en egen variant (de la casa/casera) i enten hvid og/eller rød udgave (blanco o negro), og de serverer den typisk med is, citron eller appelsinskal og måske en oliven. Jeg må indrømme, at jeg er hooked! Nu drikker jeg lige så glad et glas vermouth som et glas vin, cava eller en “caña” (fadøl).

Der skyder også jævnligt vermouth-events op rundt omkring i Barcelona, hvilket vidner om drikkens fortsatte popularitet. Jeg deltog således lørdag i “Vermut Solidario” på Castell de Montjüic, et udendørs event, der gik ud på at drikke vermouth samtidig med, at man støtter lokal velgørenhed. Og findes der nogen bedre undskyldning for at drikke sig en lille bimmelim på under den strålende efterårssol og med udsigt ud over smukke Barcelona og Middelhavet? I think not! Og det blev ikke værre af, at kastellet var fyldt med den lækreste streetfood, så hvem ville ikke nyde at være i gang med at “fer el vermut”?

UK

I used to think that the sweet aperitif of vermouth only was for old ladies, or at least something that belonged to a past tasting sweet of teenage drukenness. Maybe I’m getting an old lady, for vermouth – I’ve just discovered- is certainly me.

In Catalonia, vermouth is almost an art form, it is very much a part of the Catalan lifestyle to drink vermouth or “vermut”, especially on Sundays afternoons. Most Catalan bars and restaurants serve vermouth, perhaps even their own variant (de la casa/casera) in either white and/or red (blanco and negro), and typically it is served with ice, a lemon or an orange peel and sometimes also an olive. I admit, I´m hooked! And now I’m drinking a glass of vermouth just as gladly as a glass of wine, cava or a “caña” (draft beer).

Different vermouth events are also taking place on a regular basis around Barcelona, ​​which demonstrates the continued popularity of the drink. For example, I went to: “Vermut Solidario” in Castell de Montjüic on Saturday, an outdoor event aimed at drinking vermouth while supporting local charity. And can you find a better excuse to get at little drunk under a glorious autumn sun and overlooking the ever beautiful city of Barcelona and the Mediterranean sea? I think not! And on top, the location was fill with the most delicious street food, so who wouldn´t be enjoying being “fer el vermut”?