Dear Yolo,
My absolute favorite thing that came from making homemade red wine vinegar is the one we made after it, maple vinegar. It makes food taste incredible and is fairly easy to make as well. The idea came originally from the book Ideas in Food, which anyone and everyone interested in the process of cooking should read. It is an ongoing experimental process with food by Chefs Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot.
You need to start with some really good quality Grade A maple syrup. It’s expensive, but it is the best and substitutions really fall short. The list of the ingredients you’ll need are:
3 1/2 cups homemade red wine vinegar
3 cups grade A maple syrup
1 1/2 cups dark rum (gosling’s or any you approve of)
3/4 cup filtered water
Combine all and store in a dark place for a few weeks. Transfer as needed to a bottle with a pour spout or stopper and use on whatever you like (the recipe makes quit a bit). Maple vinegar can lift an ordinary pork tenderloin to heights of amazingness. I love it on pan roasted carrots and brussels sprouts. It gives many ordinary foods that extra umami flavor. I’ll post some recipes in the future.
If you don’t feel like going through the process of making your own or you want to try a store-bought version first, you can always buy some at Dean and Deluca:
John Boyajian’s Malple Vinegar $8.50 for 8 oz.
Or you can go the more exotic and gourmet route and purchase some from Mikuni Wild Harvest (all of their products look pretty awesome):
Tonic 03: Maple Matured Sherry Bourbon Oak Vinegar $22.95 for 400ml
Enjoy!
Love,
Yolo
Yolo & Maroon 