The Philip Duff Show #124, Francois Monti, author, drinks writer, vermouth fanatic
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Aug 11, 2025 Francois Monti, a drinks writer and vermouth authority, shares his journey from banking in Belgium to becoming a consultant in Spain’s cocktail scene. He dives into the contrasting vermouth cultures of Spain and the U.S., discusses the evolving cocktail literature, and reflects on the impact of Prohibition. The episode celebrates cocktail history, including a tribute to Charles H. Baker Jr., while addressing modern drinking trends among Gen Z and the challenges of independent writing. Expect anecdotes, cultural insights, and a toast to the joy of drinks!
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Vermouth As Cultural Product
- Francois Monti became a leading vermouth authority after a decade of writing, consulting and authoring El Gran Libro del Vermouth.
- He treats vermouth as a cultural product tied to Southern Europe and cocktail history, not just a mixer.
Book Rights Reclaimed
- Francois regained rights to El Gran Libro del Vermouth after ten years and made it available as a PDF.
- He notes very few deep books on vermouth exist in any language.
Publishing Cycles And AI Risk
- Cocktail and spirit publishing improved as the bar world grew, but low-quality and likely AI-generated books are reappearing.
- Francois warns the public will eventually value genuine, well-researched work more.
