Where to buy aged balsamic vinegar?

[xiaoguniang]

I'm looking for a source of really well-aged balsamic vinegar - any suggestions?

[MC Slim JB]

If you want the real thing, be careful to look for the designation "tradizionale" and some indication of at least 12 years of aging, from a producer based in Modena or Reggio Emilia.

There's a category of aged balsamic vinegars called condimento balsamico which are produced by similar methods to those for a tradizionale, but made by producers not blessed by one of the official consortia or not based in Modena or Reggio Emilia, and are thus a relative bargain.

I've gotten one condimento balsamico (Cavalli, from Reggio, at South End Formaggio) which was basically the budget, short-aged version of the pricier stuff from a real tradizionale producer. It doesn't have that syrupy, aged quality, which I suppose you can't expect at $25 for 500ml. Maybe this is the kind of thing you're looking for: a nice vinegar for salad dressings and sauces with some of the complexity and flavor of the real thing.

Expect to pay $80 and up for a 100ml bottle (3.4 oz!) of the real 12-year-old stuff, more for a 18-, 24-, and 50-year-old balsamico tradizionale. This is not stuff you use in salad dressings.

Good luck, and please report back if you find any bargains!

[winedude]

MC, you're offering excellent advice as usual. I did a balsamic tasting at the central market in Florence, and learned a lot about balsamico. When I told the woman there that I used Fini brand, she said that she used that to clean her silveware. I then tasted some of the great condimento balsamico, which offer much better flavor for a fraction of the price of the tradizionale. I've bought both the Cavalli condimento and the Villa Manodori condimento at Marty's Liquors in Newton. As you mentioned the Cavalli is not very thick, but it's $24 for 500 ml. The Villa Manodori is $33 for 250 ml at marty's the cheapest around (it's $45 at Williams-Sonoma). It's much more syrupy than the Cavalli, with a flavor closer to the tradizionale, and it does last a while, as I find I can use much less. It's great on a insalata caprese, with fresh heirloom tomatos (I buy mine at Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon). It's not tradizionale, but it also doesn't cost $100 for 100ml.

[almansa]

I would agree with you that the Manodori offers far and away the best price performance of the condimenti and their imitators. You can save more, though, and replicate the flavor and consistency of the VM, by dissolving a bit of additional sugar into a better quality "balsamic vinegar," like one of the Acetum varieties and reducing by about a quarter. I like the cherry wood aged. I would think that 1 Tbsp per 250ml would do. The new thing out of Italy is often called "balsamic cream" or "crema di balsamico," which is basically sweetened balsamic vinegar thickened with starch, and it is dirt cheap (and not horrible, compared to the bulk of what's out there.)

[Pegmeister]

I bought some recently at Williams Sonoma. The 12 year is $100 and the 25 year is $175. I went with the 12 year and was quite pleased with it.

[luvsummer]

The Danish Pastry shop in Watertown has both olive oil and balsamic vinegar in big urns. They provide refillable bottles for both for a very reasonable price.

[Chris VR]

J Pace& Sons in Saugus seems ot have a good selection. I don't know much about aged vinegars.

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J. Pace & Son
325 Main Street, Saugus, MA 01906

[dchow]

i would also check out capone's. their web site displays some balsamic vinegars. they're really nice there.

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Capone Foods
14 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

[litchick]

Ditto. We had a very nice tasting of balsamics at the new Capone outpost on Mass Ave in North Cambridge.

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Capone Foods
2285 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

[galleygirl]

The most extreme I've seen has been at Italian Specialty shop next door to Tommasso Trattoria in Marlboro....I tasted 25 and forty year old, IIRC there...I think they sell the forty for $89., or something like that...

[xiaoguniang]

I ended up going to Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge - the staff were incredibly knowledgeable and articulate and helped me find a great aged balsamic for about $50. The shop itself is so incredible I could just get lost for hours there.

[Bostonbob3]

I love that place, too.

[LindaWhit]

Love that store - wonderful, knowledgeable staff - and great food items!

[jjbourgeois]

I've never been disappointed with Formaggio. The staff there is always informative and extremely helpful. I can't say enough about them. I'm there at least 2-3 times a month. I'm actually due for some more balsamic vinegar. For those that say it's expensive, yes it is expensive. But i'd rather spend $50 for a bottle that i'll get 6 months of use, than $12.99 that doesn't taste as good and will only last a month.

[Food4Thought]

I've gotten some very nice Balsamic from Fresh Cheese (formerly Purity Cheese) on Endicott in the North End. It comes in a tall thin cardboard cylinder. It is called Aceto Balsamico Di Modena and is made by Acetaia L. Campari EF Modena. About $40.00 for 250 ml bottle. Like saffron, expensive, but a little goes a long way. very thick and syrupy.

[Jennalynn]

I just got this one as a birthday gift: http://www.oliviersandco.com/product/...

Anyone ever try it?

[LindaWhit]

Haven't tried it, but I'm not sure I'd call that aged balsamic. You'll know when you pour it out - you need just the tiniest drizzle for a lot of flavor. Also much thicker and more syrupy than "regular balsamic vinegar".

They should have the Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale notation. More like this one with the higher price range: http://www.oliviersandco.com/product/product.asp?product=04116VINBALTRA

Formaggio Kitchen has the Red (aged between 15-25 years), Silver (at least 25 years aging) and Gold (over 50 years aging) labeled aged balsamic - with accordingly higher price points: http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/shop/...

[9lives]

That's from the basement store on Newbury that Sailormouth mentioned.

Like other's, I'm a fan of salumeria Italiana or Formaggio's

[sailormouth]

John Dewar's in Newton and Wellesley would probably have it, possibly Cardullo's. There's also supposed to be a basementy type place on Newbury but don't know anything about it.

[C. Hamster]

Williams Sonoma has a some but they are $$. The good thing is they let you taste before you buy.

I know about the reduction trick, but that basically gives you the body but not the taste of a nice, well-aged balsamic vinegar.

[yankeefan]

Ive, on more than one occassion, spent plenty of time in a Williams Sonoma indulging in the different high-class balsamics until I get a good balsamic heachache and/or buzz. Then I feel guilty and have to buy one, but they are really good.

Does anyone ever order via mail for the high-quality stuff.. if so, please let us know what you would recommend.

[sbs401]

Good tip from America's Test Kitchen:
buy Whole Foods 365 Balsamic,
Reduce by half on stovetop
Thick rich "aged like" balsamic results (for $4)

[olives]

Formaggio Kitchen (in the South End or Cambridge) has a large selection of big and small batch vinegars...and olive oils to pair...

http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/

[lissy]

I found a kind at South End Formaggio that I like. It's called Villa Manodori and it was expensive (maybe around $40) but it's really good and I only need to use it sparingly so it last quite awhile.

[pasuga]

Salumeria Italiana on Richmond St. in the North End.

http://www.salumeriaitaliana.com/

[olives]

I just thought of another place:
Marty's Liquors in Newton (off of the Mass Pike).
Great selection of speciality condiments.

675 Washington St
Newton, MA 02458
Phone: [phone]

[Bostonbob3]

Ditto. Salumeria Italiana has a regular selection:

http://www.salumeriaitaliana.com/acb/...

And they also regularly have special versions come in.

I love that place.