What Is Vermouth?
Vermouth is a fortified wine, and aromatised with distilled or infused botanicals, among which is mandatory to use species of the genus ‘Artemisia’ for a complex and vibrant flavour profile.
Vermouth has different and distinct forms: ‘dry’ vermouth, characterised by a drier taste, its pale appearance and slightly bitter notes, and ‘sweet’ vermouth with a richer, sweeter palate and herbal flavour. Each type of vermouth has been curated for a specific taste, ranging from floral and herbal notes to subtle sweetness. This versatility makes vermouth a perfect ingredient for classics like the original MARTINI cocktail or modern innovations like MARTINI® Fiero Spritz.
Vermouth as an Aperitivo
In Italy, where vermouth was born and continues to thrive, it’s customary to enjoy the drink during aperitivo – a social pre-dinner ritual celebrated with drinks, light snacks, and time to unwind with friends and family. So, whether you’re sipping vermouth neat or mixing it in a refreshing cocktail, join us as we explore all things vermouth.
Vermouth History
Sweet Vermouth was born in Turin, Italy, at the end of the 18th century and was quickly popularised by the royal court. The drink was originally named ‘Wermut’, after the German word for ‘wormwood’, but the French pronunciation ‘vermouth’ quickly caught on and became the name we still associate with this creation today. MARTINI Extra Dry was created in 1900, reducing the amount of sugar content and experimenting with the distillation of botanicals to create the paler, crisp vermouth we feature in our Classic Gin MARTINI cocktails.
During the late 19th Century, vermouth became synonymous with the aperitivo spirit of socialising, relaxing and warmth. With this rising popularity as an aperitivo, mixologists began experimenting with the drink, and by the beginning of the 20th Century, cocktails like the Manhattan, MARTINI, and Negroni were created and enjoyed worldwide.
What Is Vermouth Made of?
Vermouth is the product of a complex layering of ingredients, and every combination of wine with roots, herbs, flowers, spices, and spirits marries to create a unique-tasting drink. Every detail, from where the ingredients are sourced to the infusion time of each botanical, can impact the final taste of the product, so every choice is deliberate to create a perfectly balanced vermouth.
How Is Vermouth Made?
Recipes for making great vermouth have been passed down from master to master. The art of blending originated from Master Blender, Luigi Rossi, and his legacy has lived on in Master Blender, Giuseppe ‘Beppe’ Musso and Master Herbalist, Alessandro Garneri.
The first stage in making vermouth is to prepare the wines that are the skeleton of the product. In its vermouths, MARTINI uses light, fresh, crispy wines that we name “vino fiore”. These wines are selected and blended by the master to obtain a consistent base over the years. The second step is the preparation of the botanical extracts. The botanicals used to make MARTINI are carefully selected all around the world by our master herbalist, who prepares our secret recipes distinct to each expression of MARTINI. The dried botanicals are then infused in alcohol and water and alcohol to obtain the unique elixirs that provide the “soul” of each MARTINI expression. At the blending stage, all the ingredients are incorporated: the sugar is dissolved into the wine, the extracts are added, the blend is fortified, and finally, when required, the caramel provides the colour.
What Does Vermouth Taste Like?
MARTINI Vermouth variations are distinct and complex in character. Drawn from the perfect blend of botanicals steeped in fortified wine, the taste of vermouth is influenced by the botanicals chosen, ranging from bitter, herbal, fruity, spicy to floral notes.
Types of Vermouth
The different types of vermouths are categorised by a perceived sweetness level, which ranges from extra dry, dry, to sweet. Though sweet vermouths are classically considered to be red and pale vermouths dry, at MARTINI we didn’t reach aperitif perfection without breaking the mould.
What Is Dry Vermouth?
Extra dry vermouth is the most popular component of the MARTINI cocktail due to its elegant appearance and classic mix of bitter and floral notes. This vermouth is considered ‘dry’ because of its low sugar content. Dry vermouth is typically higher in alcohol content than sweet vermouths, and the omission of caramel gives it its clear or pale-yellow colouring.
What Is Sweet Vermouth?
Sweet vermouth is typically brown like the classic MARTINI® Rosso vermouth. It has a higher sugar content than dry vermouth, which gives it its characteristic ‘sweet’ flavour.
Vermouth Bianco
Sweet vermouth can also be crafted with a lower sugar content. MARTINI Bianco is pale yellow in colour, with floral and vanilla notes for a lighter bitterness. Typically used in ‘perfect’ or ‘fifty-fifty’ MARTINI cocktail recipes, vermouth Bianco is also delicious when left to shine with MARTINI Prosecco and soda water in a MARTINI® Bianco Spritz.
How To Store Vermouth
Once opened, it’s crucial to store your vermouth in the fridge. Not to be confused with white and red wine, all vermouth, whether it’s sweet, dry, or both, should be refrigerated.
When stored in the refrigerator, vermouth will keep well for around a month. Beyond that, the quality will decline as it oxidises. When you first open a bottle of vermouth, have a taste and note how vibrant and complex the flavour profile is. As it ages, and especially when it goes bad, this brightness and complexity will fade. Old, or incorrectly stored, vermouth becomes flat, dull and will have a bad aroma.
How Long Does Vermouth Last?
Unopened MARTINI Vermouth can stay fresh for up to 2/3 years, depending on the different recipes, when stored in a cool, dark place. Once opened, tightly seal, refrigerate and enjoy within 1 month for peak flavour. Over time, oxidation may dull its vibrant botanicals, so savour it at its best!
How to Drink Vermouth
Vermouth can be enjoyed in various ways, depending on your mood and what you like to drink. For a simple cocktail bursting with complex flavour, enjoy your vermouth over ice as an aperitivo, or in a longer drink such as a spritz. Garnish with a wheel of lemon, orange or grapefruit to complement the base botanicals of the vermouth.
Classic cocktails like the Negroni, Manhattan, MARTINI cocktail and Americano all use vermouth for their taste and complexity. Our non-alcoholic aperitifs, like MARTINI® Floreale or MARTINI® Vibrante, are perfect for when you want something flavourful to drink without the alcoholic strength of a spirit.
Here at MARTINI, we know vermouth better than anyone. We have a large collection of vermouth cocktails for you to try, but here’s a run-through of our absolute MARTINI favourites that are classic, easy, delicious, and bound to impress your friends and family.