Balsamic vinegar

On its face, balsamic vinegar seems like an odd ingredient to include in a cocktail app. But it makes a lot of sense, because balsamic vinegar is made with ingredients and processes similar to wines and vermouths, and it brings a beautifully complex, intense flavor to drinks.

Balsamic vinegar starts as grape must (freshly crushed grapes with the skins, stems, and seeds), and is then reduced into a thick syrup called mosto cotto. This syrup is aged in wood barrels, often for over a decade.

Like many other grape products, balsamic vinegar has a Designation of Origin. The real stuff comes only from Modena or Reggio Emilia, and is aged for at least 12 years and as long as 25 years – or more!