Where to find REAL Balsamic Vinegar for cheap? Cheapest I can find is $99 for 100ml.

[DCal430]

The cheapest I can seem to find it is for around $100 for 100ml (3.38 fl oz). I really want to try this, but at close to $30 an oz, it is a bit expensive. Also if I try it, I would rather not go for the low quality end.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

The cheapest I can seem to find it is for around $100 for 100ml (3.38 fl oz). I really want to try this, but at close to $30 an oz, it is a bit expensive. Also if I try it, I would rather not go for the low quality end.

What are you using it for? Real Modena balsamic can be had for far less though it depends on how long it's aged.

Personally, I buy decent balsamic and then create a reduction to concentrate it for use in dressings and on things like a caprese salad (which I had tonight with a 15 year old balsamic reduced down).

 

[DCal430]

What are you using it for? Real Modena balsamic can be had for far less though it depends on how long it's aged.

Personally, I buy decent balsamic and then create a reduction to concentrate it for use in dressings and on things like a caprese salad (which I had tonight with a 15 year old balsamic reduced down).

For salad and dipping with olive oil. The minimum aging it seems is 12 years. I assume the longer the aging the better.

So where can you find it on the web for cheaper?

 

[sjwaste]

For salad, you don't need anything aged for too long. Go to Whole Foods and buy a $10 bottle. It will clearly indicate whether or not it's from Modena, if that's what you want.

Aged (10+ year) balsamic vinegar is used mostly as a sauce in its own right.

 

[Kirby]

Ask Dave. Although you may have to fill out several forms to buy it.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

For salad and dipping with olive oil. The minimum aging it seems is 12 years. I assume the longer the aging the better.

So where can you find it on the web for cheaper?

You don't need to find it on the web. Go to your local Marshalls or Ross and they will have decent authentic Modena balsamic on their shelves for a pittance. Pour the bottle into a sauce pan, reduce it on low heat by 1/2, then store it back in the bottle. I'd defy anyone to tell the difference between a reduction and an aged balsamic unless you're talking a balsamic that has been aged 50+ years.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Target but you'll need to sign a release form.

 

[DCal430]

I was at Whole Foods today, no real pure Balsamic is sold there.

 

[DCal430]

You don't need to find it on the web. Go to your local Marshalls or Ross and they will have decent authentic Modena balsamic on their shelves for a pittance. Pour the bottle into a sauce pan, reduce it on low heat by 1/2, then store it back in the bottle. I'd defy anyone to tell the difference between a reduction and an aged balsamic unless you're talking a balsamic that has been aged 50+ years.

What they sell is commercial balsamic which is little bit of real balsamic mixed with red wine vinegar. I am talking about real authentic 100% balsamic vinegar.

 

[DCal430]

Also I purchased a 4 leaf bottle for around $30 there. 4 leaf is the highest rating for commercial balsamic vinegar.

 

[dainthomas]

Christ, now we have vinegar purists?

 

[blamb425]

Target but you'll need to sign a release form.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

What they sell is commercial balsamic which is little bit of real balsamic mixed with red wine vinegar. I am talking about real authentic 100% balsamic vinegar.

Purchased from a local Marshalls for $9.99.

 

[DCal430]

Purchased from a local Marshalls for $9.99.

You should read up on it. That product isn't actually real balsamic vinegar. It is Red Wine Vinegar with small amounts of balsamic added.

Real Authentic Balsamic Vinegar says "Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena"

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

You should read up on it. That product isn't actually real balsamic vinegar. It is Red Wine Vinegar with small amounts of balsamic added.

Real Authentic Balsamic Vinegar says "Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena"

Actually, that's incorrect. While this balsamic isn't aged over 12 years or more, it doesn't use red wine vinegar. It is still prepared the traditional way and it's still from Modena.

Edit: btw, for many balsamics the must is only reduced by 1/3. For this particular brand the must is reduced by 1/2.

And I will reiterate. If you further reduce this balsamic in a sauce pan by 1/2 I would defy you to decern any taste difference between it and a balsamic aged for 50+ years.

 

[DCal430]

Actually, that's incorrect. While this balsamic isn't aged over 12 years or more, it doesn't use red wine vinegar. It is still prepared the traditional way and it's still from Modena.

Edit: btw, for many balsamics the must is only reduced by 1/3. For this particular brand the must is reduced by 1/2.

And I will reiterate. If you further reduce this balsamic in a sauce pan by 1/2 I would defy you to decern any taste difference between it and a balsamic aged for 50+ years.

Everything I am reading says otherwise.

 

[Born2bwire]

You must be such a fun guy at parties.

 

[Slew Foot]

And you thought the bike/knife/car snob threads were bad.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Everything I am reading says otherwise.

Try tasting it instead of reading about it. I have been doing this for years. It's like wine. Sure. A $300+ bottle of Stag's Leap Cab is probably going to blow away nearly anything else. But that $40 bottle of Stag's Leap you can buy from Costco is going to be damn close and, frankly, isn't really worth the miniscule difference unless you have the money to burn.

Do you have the money to burn? If you did you likely wouldn't have started this thread in the first place. Want a good substitute? Listen to what I'm telling you.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Was it vinegar or olive oil that was rife with fakes?

 

[alkemyst]

try walmart

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

And you thought the bike/knife/car snob threads were bad.

I'm actually trying to be anti-snob about this. It's just that a decent balsamic is very important in some of the dishes I make and even may have been important in some foods you have eaten, even if you don't recognize it. Those that don't appreciate balsamic won't understand. Those who do understand will.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm actually trying to be anti-snob about this. It's just that a decent balsamic is very important in some of the dishes I make and even may have been important in some foods you have eaten, even if you don't recognize it. Those that don't appreciate balsamic won't understand. Those who do understand will.

don't cry y0!

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?309262-I-spent-30-000-in-my-first-6-Months

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Was it vinegar or olive oil that was rife with fakes?

EVOO is often just low acid olive oil. Real extra virgin olive oil is from the first pressing of the olive.

I just buy cheep stuff from wall mart 5 years before I want to use it

 

[dabuddha]

This is the only thing I use