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Traditional dark balsamic vinegar bottle

Traditional 18-Year Style Dark Balsamic Vinegar

Inspired by rare lots of 18 Year Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia, our Traditional 18 Year Style dark balsamic offers a perfect balance of sweet and sour, with notes of prune and caramel and a creamy texture that leads to a long finish. Our best seller and a true pantry staple — it pairs beautifully with every oil in our store.

About This Balsamic

Inspired by rare lots of 18 Year Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia, this is the balsamic that started it all for many of our customers. Rich, complex, and naturally sweet, it strikes a perfect balance of sweet and sour with notes of prune and caramel and a creamy, velvety texture that leads to a long, satisfying finish. Versatile enough for everyday cooking and refined enough for entertaining — this is the one we recommend to every first-time balsamic customer.

Use For Vinaigrettes · Marinades · Reductions · Bread dipping · Pasta · Grains · Roasted vegetables · Soups · Cheese boards · Sweet treats · Ice cream · Strawberries

Pair With Complement this balsamic with one of our olive oils to create outstanding dressings and marinades:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Any Olive That! EVOO

Infused EVOO: Any Olive That! Infused Olive Oil

Fused EVOO: Any Olive That! Fused Olive Oil

This is the perfect starter balsamic if you’re new to the world of artisan balsamic vinegar. Try it as a simple dipping balsamic alongside any of our extra virgin olive oils — equal parts oil and balsamic in a dipping plate is all you need.

Product of Modena, Italy · 4% Acidity · Ingredients: Cooked Grape Must, Wine Vinegar, Naturally Occurring Sulphites

Nutritional Facts · Serving Size 15ml (1 Tbsp) · Calories 45 · Total Fat 0g · Saturated Fat 0g · Sodium 10mg · Sugars 11g · No added sugar

Dark Balsamic 101

Common questions about dark balsamic vinegars.

1Is your dark balsamic gluten free?
Yes — all of our dark balsamic vinegars are naturally gluten free. They are made from grape must with no wheat, barley, or gluten-containing ingredients. Please note that balsamic vinegar contains naturally occurring sulfites. If you have a sulfite intolerance or allergy, we recommend avoiding dark balsamic vinegar entirely. We store and handle our balsamic vinegars separately to minimize the risk of cross-contamination, and we take all allergies very seriously. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us before purchasing.
2How should I store my dark balsamic?
Store your balsamic in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat, a pantry or kitchen cupboard away from the stove is ideal. It does not need to be refrigerated. Properly stored, our dark balsamic vinegars will last up to 3 years or more. Always keep the bottle tightly sealed when not in use.
3What's the difference between your balsamic and grocery store balsamic?
Most grocery store balsamics are mass-produced with added caramel colouring, thickeners, and added sugars or sweeteners to mimic the flavour and consistency of traditionally aged balsamic. Our dark balsamics are sourced from Modena, Italy, made from Trebbiano grape must, and aged in wooden barrels — no artificial additives, no shortcuts. The difference is immediately noticeable in both flavour and texture.
4Can I cook with dark balsamic or is it just for salad dressings?
Dark balsamic is a versatile ingredient to have in your kitchen, and it definitely goes far beyond salad dressings. Use it as a marinade for meats and vegetables, or reduce it on the stovetop into a rich glaze for Caprese salad, roasted vegetables, and garden fresh heirloom tomatoes. The natural sugars caramelize beautifully when heated, adding depth and complexity to both savoury and sweet dishes. It pairs beautifully with strawberries, aged cheeses, prosciutto, and grilled figs. Try it as a finishing drizzle over vanilla ice cream, roasted vegetables, or a simple cheese board, and you'll never go back to grocery store balsamic.
5What is the difference between a dark and white balsamic vinegar?
Both dark and white balsamic vinegars originate from Modena, Italy and are made from grape must, but the similarity ends there. Dark balsamic is cooked at a higher temperature, which caramelizes the sugars and produces its characteristic deep colour, rich sweetness, and thick, syrupy consistency. White balsamic is cooked at a lower temperature and aged for a shorter period, resulting in a much lighter colour, a cleaner and more brighter flavour, and a thinner consistency. Dark balsamic works beautifully in glazes, reductions, and hearty dishes. White balsamic is better suited to light salads, seafood, and dishes where you want flavour without colour. Both dark and white balsamics have been used to naturally flavour soda or sparkling water!
6What is the difference between dark balsamic vinegar and wine vinegar?
Wine vinegar (whether red or white) is made by fermenting wine into acetic acid. It has a sharp, tangy flavour and a thin consistency. Dark balsamic vinegar is made from grape must that is cooked, concentrated, and aged in wooden barrels over time. The result is a much sweeter, thicker, and more complex product with a depth of flavour that wine vinegar cannot replicate. While they are not identical, dark balsamic can substitute for red wine vinegar in many recipes where a touch of natural sweetness is welcome – just use slightly less, as it is more concentrated. For purely sharp, acidic applications where you want no sweetness at all, wine vinegar remains the better choice.
7Your glass bottles are really nice and it doesn't feel right to just recycle them. Do you offer refills?
We do not offer refills, and here's why. Bottles are notoriously difficult to clean thoroughly, and invisible residue or water left inside can cause the next fill of balsamic to spoil prematurely. We want every bottle you take home to be as good as the one you tasted in store, and that means starting with a clean bottle every time. We recommend recycling your empty bottles and saving the reusable corks (they'll fit most wine or sparkling drink bottles)!

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