Vermouth
Vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with herbs, spices and wormwood. It is a classic aperitif and a pillar of cocktails like the negroni and the manhattan.
How to describe it to a guest
Vermouth is a wine flavored with herbs; on ice with an orange twist it's a perfect aperitif.
Origin
Modern vermouth developed in Turin, Italy, in the late 18th century; France developed the dry style.
Production
A base wine is flavored with botanicals (wormwood is traditional), fortified with spirit and, depending on style, sweetened.
Flavor
Herbal, gently bitter, citrusy and, in reds, vanilla and dried-fruit notes.
Styles
- Rosso / Dulce
- Red, sweet and spiced; the base of the negroni and the manhattan.
- Dry / Seco
- Pale, dry and herbal; key to the dry martini.
- Blanco / Bianco
- Clear but sweet, floral and soft.
How to serve it
- GlasswareRocks glass
- TemperatureChilled, over ice.
- Being wine, it oxidizes: once opened, refrigerate it and use it within a few weeks.
Pairings
- Olives and snacks
- Cured ham and charcuterie
- Chicharrón with salsa
Reading the label
- Vermouth di Torino
- Italian geographical indication for vermouth made in Piedmont under specific rules.
- Ajenjo (Artemisia)
- The bitter plant that gives vermouth its name (from German Wermut).
Cocktails
Amaro · Built
Americano
The Negroni's lighter sibling: bitter, bubbly and low in alcohol. Perfect for a long, unhurried afternoon.
Whisky · Stirred
Boulevardier
A Negroni with whiskey instead of gin: rounder, warmer and touched with vanilla. Ideal when the evening turns cool.
Gin · Stirred
Dry Martini
Gin and dry vermouth, nothing more. Its simplicity makes it a precision drink: temperature, dilution and ratio are everything.
Whisky · Stirred
Manhattan
Rye whiskey and sweet vermouth with a touch of bitters: elegant, deep and spicy. A pillar of classic mixology.
Mezcal · Stirred
Mezcal Negroni
The Negroni with an Oaxacan accent: mezcal's smoke and agave replace juniper. It is now a fixture in mezcalerías and bars across Mexico.
Gin · Stirred
Negroni
Three equal parts holding each other up: juniper from the gin, bitterness from Campari and spiced sweetness from vermouth. It is Italy's definitive aperitivo and a template behind dozens of riffs.
Sources
- The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails
- The Oxford Companion to Wine
Updated October 20, 2026