Vermouth is an aromatised, fortified wine: a base of light white or red wine flavoured with a blend of botanicals and always including wormwood, the Artemisia that gives the drink its name. Fortified to around 16 to 18 per cent, it sits somewhere between wine and liqueur, aromatic and gently bitter, equally at home poured over ice before dinner or measured into a classic cocktail.
Sweet Italian rosso and dry French vermouth styles
Two traditions define the category. Sweet vermouth, the Italian rosso born in Turin in the eighteenth century, is red or amber and richer, with notes of dark cherry, caramel and baking spice, and it is the bottle for a Manhattan or a Negroni. Dry vermouth is the French style, pale, lean and herbaceous, with far less sugar and a crisp, herbal snap that the houses of Chambéry and Marseille made famous. Between them sit gently floral bianco and delicate rosé. All of them belong to the wider fortified wine family, so a small measure goes a long way.
How to serve vermouth, as an aperitif and in cocktails
The simplest way to enjoy vermouth is the way southern Europe does, well chilled over ice with a slice of orange for a sweet red, or a twist of lemon for a dry white. It is also a cornerstone of the drinks cabinet: a dry vermouth makes the Martini, while a sweet one builds the Manhattan and the Negroni, so it is worth keeping both beside your favourite bottles from our spirits range. Because vermouth is wine at heart, an open bottle needs looking after.
Vermouth FAQ
Should vermouth be kept in the fridge?
Yes. Once opened it oxidises like any wine, so keep it in the refrigerator and drink it within a month or so. Sweet styles hold a little longer than dry, but fresher is always better.
What is the difference between sweet and dry vermouth?
Sweet rosso is red or amber, higher in sugar and led by spice and caramel. Dry vermouth is pale, light and herbal, made for the Martini. Bianco sits in the middle, softly sweet and floral.
How should I drink vermouth?
Serve it chilled on the rocks with citrus as an aperitif, or use it to build a Martini, Manhattan or Negroni alongside a good bottle from our spirits shelf.