I always have the hardest time selecting my monthly staff pick. I mean, I don't think a meal goes by that doesn't contain something delicious that I got at the shop. How's a girl to choose? Should I pick the Pave Sauvage and the Sovrano, with which I made an awesome batch of homemade potatoes au gratin? How about the Pomodoraccio sun dried tomatoes that over the years have become a kitchen crutch for me? Or perhaps the Fleur de Sel that I put on EVERYTHING and basically can't dine without? Or maybe the Vernaccia di San Gimignano that I'm sipping right now? Oh, that's right, I already featured that wine about a half dozen staff picks ago...

Well, as hard as it is to choose, I think I'll go with the new Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Rouge this month. I've always been a fan of a good Manhattan, but had never delved into the world of super special vermouth to make that classic cocktail really shine. Consider me a changed girl... so much so that I don't think I'll ever go back.

The Dolin Vermouth has been made since 1821 and is the only Vermouth to be granted Appellation D'Origine in 1932. It follows the same, secret recipe of up to 54 Alpine botanicals (among them, wormwood, hyssop, chamomile, genepi, chincona bark, and rose petals) that are macerated in white wine for several months and then sweetened with caramelized sugars and fortified. The resulting liquid is a complex, floral, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, utterly herbal, anise-cinnamon, wonder, that is just as good in a glass with ice and lemon twist as it is mixed with rye and bitters, with a cherry on top. Who knew?

My Manhattan recipe is as follows, to be shaken or stirred:

2 oz Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey
1/2 oz Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Rouge
2-3 dashes bitters
3 small kirsch soaked cherries from La Parisiennes as garnish (we've carried these cherries forever and damn, they really do make the best Manhattan accessory EVER)

Now, I just need to try the Dry and Blanc versions from this great Vermouth producer and undoubtedly ALL my fancy cocktail dreams will come true!

Cheers!