Elena Spirits

"Shortly before founding their new, family-sized project Cascina Penna-Currado, Elena Penna and husband Luca (formerly the owners of Vietti) realised another dream, when they began making top quality Vermouths. Following a closely guarded secret recipe passed down through Elena’s family, they are produced at a historic distillery near Turin, so carry the Vermouth di Torino designation. What sets them apart – and makes them so appealing to Flint – is the quality of the base wines. While many other Vermouths blend botanicals with inexpensive Trebbiano (even the reds, which are then dyed), Elena’s use top-quality Timorasso and Barolo for the bianco and rosso respectively. They are also vintage specific. The rosso is labelled ‘Laz’ since the grapes hail from Barolo’s Lazzarito Cru and, as is tradition, includes around 2% Arneis. The only Vermouths in Flint’s portfolio are characterful, moreish and digest. They’re a high-class cocktail ingredient but perhaps best enjoyed unadulterated, over ice."