It’s easy to like this bold, opinionated ink. This is Garnet from Monteverde. It’s fun, and performs very well.

Garnet is a lovely blend of red and purple. It’s darker than many similar inks, and there are quite a few. It’s dark like a pinot noir, but has a bit more purple in its depths, maybe something like a shiraz. Although it’s possible to coax a gold sheen under ideal circumstances, it’s better thought of as a shading ink with a dark halo when used with medium and larger nibs.

In writing, it’s a very Monteverde ink. It’s consistent, flows nicely, and gives you exactly what you expect. I like that about many of the Monteverde inks. Drying was very nice, slightly better than average.

Monteverde Garnet is easy to recommend. The price is right, the color is confident and direct, and it really delivers in performance and writing experience. This one is a no-brainer and should be in every collection.