White Oak Tavern & Inn Puts Vermouth in the Spotlight
Tiki drinks and bracing whiskey cocktails are all the rage at bars nowadays, but at White Oak Tavern & Inn there’s another spirit stepping into the spotlight. In line with the rising tide of old-world ingredients experiencing a renaissance, vermouth is front-and-center at the Lincoln Park newcomer, and it’s all thanks to beverage director Danielle Sander.
Sander is on a mission to open the public’s eyes to the wonders of vermouth, and take it more seriously as a distinct spirit rather than a fossilized bar cart fixture. Her beverage program echoes the culinary philosophies exemplified by chef John Asbaty, who exhibits a commitment to locality and freshness. Eschewing big-name brands for small-batch and local names, Sanders has concocted a beverage list to seamlessly supplement the food program at this Midwest-centric restaurant, and her in-depth vermouth program is perfectly indicative of that.
White Oak features a full-fledged vermouth list eleven bottles strong, which are ideally sampled via a vermouth flight of three to five vermouth tastings. Her list includes Vya Whisperer Dry, Extra Dry, and Sweet Vermouth, all courtesy of Andrew Quady of Quady Winery in California. By bringing a vintner’s approach to vermouth, using the best grapes and working with meticulous attention to detail, Quady’s products are top-shelf, making them fine fodder for White Oak’s martinis and Manhattans.
Imbue Bittersweet vermouth packs a bitter, herbal punch, endearing it well it White Oak’s beermosas, while Petal & Thorn is a brand of vermouth known for its floral aromas.
Ransom Dry and Sweet Vermouth, hailing from Oregon, are both rich and botanical through and through. These potent potables are strong enough to feature in cocktails as the sweet vermouth or chilled, like the dry.
Interrobang Sweet Vermouth is Sanders’ favorite, something she describes as rich enough to serve as a dessert wine, but also herbaceous enough to hold up as an aperitif. This versatile spirit is also a nice addition to cocktails, especially Manhattans, making it a nice catch-all vermouth.
Then there’s the Hammer & Tons ‘l’Afrique” and “sac’resine,” the former of which features florals from North and West Africa, while the latter is more Chinese and South Asian.
White Oak Tavern & Inn
1200 W. Webster Avenue, Chicago
(773) 248-0200
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