With a aim to develop a flexible vermouth suited to the present state of cocktail ingesting tradition, The Zamora Firm turned to 20-year plus trade veterans Chris Patino and Stacey Swenson for his or her experience.
Collectively, Chris and Stacey helped to create the formulation for Villa Massa Vermouth Giardino Tradizionale, Mediterranean Dry and Mediterranean Rosso, in partnership with The Zamora Firm. We requested the duo in regards to the vermouths and what makes them so particular.
Discuss to us about Villa Massa Vermouth. What impressed you when creating Villa Massa vermouth?
Chris: Rising up in an Italian household, dominated by Italian tradition, I used to be all the time surrounded by what have been on the time thought-about to be esoteric bottles of vermouth, amari, amaretto, limoncello, and so forth. The truth is, my grandfather on my mother’s aspect, Frank Rosati, even owned an Italian bar and restaurant known as Villa Rosati’s in Los Angeles within the 60’s & 70’s. So after we have been approached by Villa Massa to assist create a spread of Italian vermouths, to say I used to be excited can be an enormous understatement. Dreaming up botanicals that we may use within the vermouths was the perfect half, particularly when it got here to the Dry, as we have been advised that principally something discovered within the Mediterranean was truthful recreation. And I couldn’t be happier with the way in which that they turned out.
What ought to bartenders learn about Villa Massa Vermouth?
Chris: Working with The Zamora Firm to assist create Villa Massa Vermouth Giardino has been a tremendous expertise. And in all equity, the credit score goes to them. However they needed to guarantee that it was a vermouth that served to swimsuit the wants of the present state of cocktails and ingesting tradition, and that’s the place Stacey and I got here in. We needed to create one thing that was tremendous properly balanced, in order that Vermouth Giardino would mix in seamlessly in cocktails, whether or not getting used as a modifier or as the bottom of one thing low-ABV. And naturally they’re extraordinarily properly suited to drink on their very own, over ice or with a splash of soda.
What makes it stand other than different manufacturers in the marketplace?
Chris: I feel what stands out essentially the most about Vermouth Giardino is that it was created with cocktails in thoughts. Don’t get me incorrect, the vermouths are nice on their very own, however we actually delved deep into the anthology of drinks that decision for aromatized wine, each basic and trendy, to primarily kick the tires on the class, to see what it was able to. However what I actually like most about each of the Giardino Vermouths is that they’re properly balanced in a thought-provoking concord of herbs and botanicals. Not one single taste notice dominates the general taste profile. And you may really style (and revel in) the wine!
Chris Patino
Chris Patino is Co-Proprietor of Raised by Wolves, a extremely acclaimed bar and spirits retail store, that has helped to position San Diego squarely on the worldwide drinks stage. A 20-year veteran of the spirits and cocktail scene, Chris can also be Founding father of Easy Serve, a trade-focused advertising and marketing company servicing the drinks trade, in addition to Co-Founding father of Bartender’s Weekend in San Diego.
Chris is likely one of the most acknowledged and admired faces within the trade, due to his years served as Nationwide Model Ambassador for Pernod Ricard and emceeing for big scale trade occasions, reminiscent of Tales of the Cocktail and Velocity Rack. His work has earned accolades, together with being featured amongst Beverage Media’s “2019 Bartenders to Watch” and a finalist for “Model Ambassador of the Yr” for 3 consecutive years at Tales of the Cocktail.
Stacey Swenson
Stacey Swenson, a 20-year veteran of the hospitality trade and native of Iowa, is likely one of the most passionate and sought-after abilities on aperitivo and Italian ingesting tradition. Honing her craft as a bartender and mixologist in Chicago, Stacey relocated to New York some six years in the past and in that point has held notable positions together with head bartender at Dante (#1 World’s Greatest Bar, 2020), bar director at Bar Pisellino, bar director for Mattos Hospitality group opening Lodi and 9 Orchard resort. Stacey was additionally awarded Star Cooks Rising Star Bartender of 2019.
Stacey is acknowledged and awarded for her subtle, balanced and outright enjoyable interpretations of aperitivo and Italian classics in addition to revolutionary low-proof choices. As companion of drinks advertising and marketing collective Easy Serve, Stacey makes use of her experience and acute trade information to create cocktail applications and model methods for among the most acknowledged names throughout the bar and spirits sectors.
