Drink of the Week: C. Comoz Vermouth Blanc

Not only is vermouth one of the cocktail world’s key supporting players, but it also has a long and illustrious history. The C. Comoz Vermouth Blanc dates back to the late 19th century when Claudius Comoz, son of house-founder Jean-Pierre Comoz, is credited with inventing the vermouth blanc style. The aromatized wine went on to enjoy great popularity, including being the specified vermouth in Cuba’s classic El Presidente cocktail. But the house of Comoz closed operations in 1981 and product had disappeared entirely by the turn of the century. Reintroduced in recent years by Dolin and importer Haus Alpenz, the C. Comoz Vermouth Blanc is once again widely available and ideal for springtime drinking. Bright, floral and lightly sweet with an undercurrent of wormwood and vanilla, it’s worth appreciating on its own but also mixes beautifully with spirits, particularly tequila and gin. $16.99, winetransit.com