The Volcano — Two ingredients from the same mountains: Auvergne gentian and red vermouth

The Volcano

Two ingredients from the same mountains: Auvergne gentian and red vermouth

Number of people

Ingredients

  • 2 ozAvèze
    Two thirds of the drink, and the whole point of it
    Substitute: Another French gentian aperitif
  • 1 ozSweet Vermouth
    A sweet floor for the gentian to stand on

Instructions

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice
  2. Add 2 oz Aveze and 1 oz sweet vermouth
  3. Stir until cold

    Two thirds gentian to one third vermouth, in that order

Technique Notes

Two thirds gentian to one third vermouth, and in that order. The vermouth is here to give the gentian a sweet floor to stand on, not to share the drink; reverse the ratio and you have a vermouth cocktail with a bitter note rather than a gentian one.

Why the The Volcano Works

Gentian is the most one-note bitter in the aperitif cabinet, earthy and rooty with almost no fruit to it. Sweet vermouth supplies the fruit and the weight from outside, which is why two ingredients are enough here and a third would be in the way.