Barolo Chinato

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz tbsp China Calisaya bark
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 stripe of orange zest (orange part only)
• 1 stripe of bitter orange zest (fresh or dried)
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 2 crushed cardamom seeds
• ½ chopped carob pod
• 1 clove
• 1 bay leave
• 3 anise seeds
• 3 liter of Barolo wine (at least 3 years old)
• 1 ½ cups of sugar

If you cannot find Barolo use an old, strong red wine.

Let soak all the spices in the wine for 2 weeks.

Filter and add the sugar.

Bottle and let rest for 1 month.

Store in a dark place.

The Barolo Chinato is the king of flavored wine.                                           
While the Vermouth is made of a cheap wine and herbs, the Barolo Chinato born from one of the best Italian wines.                                                                                                                                                                             
This flavored wine was invented at the end of XIX century by the pharmacist Giuseppe Cappellano, in Asti, a Piedmont little town, the center of Barolo production.                                                                                          
Use the best and oldest Barolo can find.
Taste this flavored wine hot or cold.
Eat some chocolate with while drinking the Barolo Chinato: they match wonderfully.

Shake 1 part of dry gin, 3 parts of Barolo Chinato and 1 part of orange juice.  
Serve in a Martini glass.