Jerry Thomas Speakeasy Meets Del Professore Vermouth And Spirits: A Quality Link Of Excellences In The Name Of Made In Italy

1 July 2020 Leila Tavi

When one of the best cocktail bars in the world, The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy in Rome, meets quality products magically, the result is Del Professore, whose products are Vermouth but also Bitter, and three types of Gin, which are made in the distillery of Piemonte’s Castelnuovo Don Bosco, in Antica Distilleria Quaglia.

At the end of the 18th-century, Italian herbalists, experts in the composition of curative preparations started the first production of voluptuous drinks. Thus, the liqueur base of the modern aperitif and cocktail was born. The research path signed by Del Professore looks back to that golden age, with the intent to revive the artisan tradition, respecting some simple principles: a strong bond with the territory, the care for good and natural ingredients, the attention for the knowledge of the craftsmen who work them. Del Professore’s products reflect the history, dreams, and commitment of the people who make them and are an expression of the territory from which they are born: Piemonte.

The biodiversity and rural culture of this region offer a surprising panorama of valuable natural raw materials, among which we select many of our ingredients. Like the complex herbal recipes, historical heritage of the distillery founded in 1890 in Asti’s area, the raw materials are essential and are treated with the utmost care. This is the origin of Del Professore products, unique and different each time, which reflect the changes in society, in the continuous search for a perfect balance between the wonderful imperfections of nature.

All the products are made in collaboration with the team of The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, which was born in 2010 as the first Italian speakeasy, a small club in the heart of Rome. The idea came from a group of bartenders: Alessandro Procoli, Roberto Artusio, Antonio Parlapiano, and Leonardo Leuci, who provided colleagues, enthusiasts, and curious people with a place to experiment and share their particular, personal and professional experiences. The years that follow are made up of travel, research, study, cultural exchanges, seminars and so much determination that will allow Jerry Thomas Speakeasy to enter five times in the “World’s 50 Best Bars” ranking. In 2013, after a long and meticulous, historical, and technical research, the “Vermouth Del Professore” was born. A story, of Jerry Thomas, well described in the book Twist on classic, published in Italy by Giunti and with prefaces by a special client of the bar, actor Jude Law, and the famous cocktail historian David Wondrich.

We present our readers three signature drinks by the crew of The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy:

DRINK: CHERRY BOMB

INGREDIENTS:

4 cl Bitter Del Professore
15 cl Cherry Soda Three Cents
Garnish: lemon zest

PREPARATION:

A fresh and light drink, extremely easy to prepare at home. Fill a glass with ice up to the rim, add 4 cl of Bitter Del Professore, 15 cl of Cherry Soda Three Cents and lemon and mix with a bar spoon. A very simple cocktail that perfectly embodies the concept of the Italian style “Aperitivo”. With hints of juniper, the Bitter Del Professore emanates cinnamon and other spices, on the palate emerge the characteristic flavors of citrus, cascarilla, rhubarb, and gentian. The surprising ruby red colour is natural.
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DRINK: APERITIVO&TONIC

INGREDIENTS:

5 cl Aperitivo Del Professore
15 cl Tonic Water London Essence
Garnish: Lemon Zest

PREPARATION:

Fill a glass with ice up to the rim, add the two ingredients, and the lemon and mix with a bar spoon. A fresh and simple aperitif, a perfect remedy against the sultriness of a hot summer, thanks to the Aperitivo Del Professore – made in Piedmont at Antica Distilleria Quaglia – which comes from the careful artisan infusion of mandarin, lemon, gentian, and rhubarb. Its light flavours (15% alcohol by volume) and Mediterranean colours evoke the atmosphere of the fabulous Fifties…
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DRINK: CROCK ‘N TONIC

INGREDIENTS:

50 ml Crocodile Gin
Tonic water
Glass: Collins

PREPARATION:

Fill a glass with ice up to the rim, pour the Crocodile Gin and leave the bottle of tonic water on the side, open and next to the glass, so that the customer can fill as desired. A fresh and simple gin tonic, but with the fragrance and flavour of Crocodile Gin, made at Antica Distilleria Quaglia. Crocodile Gin is a fresh and genuine gin, made with juniper, citrus fruits, coriander, and rich in intense notes of elder and Jamaican pepper. It is full on the palate, delicately softened by notes of vanilla and other exotic spices.

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