Pub group giant Stonegate to list La Quintinye Vermouth Royal across national estate 

In a deal brokered by drinks supplier Paragon Brands, La Quintinye Vermouth Royal is now listed as the house vermouth across the 1000+ Stonegate Pubs managed estate.  

The Manchester-based importer, distributor and supplier of unusual sprits and liqueurs to the UK drinks sector has secured the national listing for the premium French vermouth brand with all three variants – Extra Dry, Blanc and Rouge – to land on back bars this month.  

The listing allows bartenders to get creative with vermouth-based cocktails and brings a unique style of vermouth to aperitif and digestif menus, cocktails lists and spritz selections. Stonegate guests will now have access to a craft, smaller batch vermouth – presenting a step change from the larger mainstream brands usually available to them.  

Made from blends of French white wines, Pineau Blanc and Rouge, and 37 aromatic plants, the three vermouths shake up the back bar with interesting quality drinks from a craft producer, moving away from big brand, large scale production vermouths.  

With three distinctive vermouth expressions in the range, La Quintinye allows drinkers to explore the full spectrum of flavour nuances and find their favourite style.  Created in Charentais vineyards in France, all three vermouths can be served with ice and a wedge of orange – ideal for aperitif moments, early evening drinks and sunset gatherings. They can be served in spritzes for a drier option, with soda or tonic for a herbal, aromatic, refreshing long drink, and as a sipping drink to be savoured before or after a meal.  

All three can form the basis of signature cocktails such as Royal Negroni, Royal Dry Martini and the Marianito.  

Vermouth also pairs well with a range of foods, such as with Spanish, Italian and French cheeses, charcuterie and tapas, tapping into the trend for group grazing and sharing boards.  

Chris Jones, managing director at Paragon Brands, says: “We’re thrilled to have La Quintinye Vermouth Royal listed in the UK’s largest pub and bar operator; it brings a unique offering to Stonegate guests looking to explore and experiment with craft brands and high quality drinks from around the world.  

“Working with Stonegate allows these unique vermouths to reach new audiences and we know the market is ready for it.   

“Vermouth is having a revival in the UK. We know consumers are exploring the vermouth category to find their favourite balance of bitters, sweetness and botanicals. France is an emerging contender on the vermouth scene as UK consumers recognise the market for its quality spirits credentials and see it as a premium choice. France is a region embraced by the trade as a mark of quality and craftmanship and we expect French vermouth will consolidate its reputation with consumers in the coming years. 

“We’re proud to bring some of the world’s most exciting alcohol brands to market, challenging established market players with unique brands that have a compelling story to tell and offer a strong sense of place. At Paragon Brands, our goal is to always bring something new and different and this new partnership will play a critical role in bringing La Quintinye Vermouth Royal to a wide audience, showcasing how lively and exciting the vermouth sector promises to be.” 

Karen Powell, head of wines and spirits at Stonegate Group, adds: “We’re diversifying our back bars to bring more unusual premium drinks to our guests, to give them something they wouldn’t necessarily find in other mainstream outlets or in the supermarket. La Quintinye Vermouth Royal is a wonderful selection of well-produced, craft vermouths that give our bar teams a talking point to share with guests and give flexible drinks options as the vermouths can use used in a range of drinks. They bring flavour complexity and deliver on quality, ticking all the key boxes for us so it made sense for us to replace our existing vermouth lines with La Quintinye Vermouth Royal.”  

La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Extra Dry (17%) Blanc (16% abv) and Rouge (abv 16.5%) are available via Paragon Brands [https://www.paragonbrands.co.uk/].