What is Vermouth?

Vermouth is a fortified wine that is flavored with botanicals and aromatics such as herbs, roots, and spices. Fortified wine is a wine that has been fortified, or strengthened, with a distilled spirit such as brandy. The addition of the spirit raises the alcohol content of the wine and gives it a longer shelf life. It is typically used as an ingredient in cocktails such as the Martini and the Manhattan. There are three main types of vermouth: sweet, blanc, and dry, each with its own unique flavor profile and production process.

History of Vermouth

The exact origins of vermouth are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in Turin, Italy in the late 18th century. Vermouth was originally marketed as a medicinal tonic, as wormwood was believed to have medicinal properties. It was not until the mid-19th century that vermouth became popular as a cocktail ingredient.

Sweet Vermouth

Sweet vermouth, also known as red or Italian vermouth, is made by infusing a base wine with a blend of botanicals and sweetening it with sugar. The base wine is typically a red wine made from a variety of grapes such as Grenache, Carignan, or Sangiovese. The botanicals used in sweet vermouth can vary, but typically include wormwood, which gives the drink its name (vermouth is derived from the German word for wormwood, wermut), as well as other ingredients such as cinnamon, clove, and vanilla.

The result is a rich, sweet, and aromatic wine with a deep red color. Sweet vermouth is often used in cocktails that call for a sweet, herbal flavor, such as the Negroni or the Manhattan. Some popular brands of sweet vermouth include Carpano Antica Formula, Martini & Rossi, and Punt e Mes.

Blanc Vermouth

Blanc vermouth, also known as white or French vermouth, is made with a white wine base instead of a red wine base. The white wine used in blanc vermouth is typically a dry wine made from grapes such as Clairette, Ugni Blanc, or Colombard. Like sweet vermouth, blanc vermouth is infused with a blend of botanicals, but it is not sweetened, which gives it a lighter, drier flavor profile.

Blanc vermouth is typically lighter in color than sweet vermouth, with a pale yellow or straw color. The botanicals used in blanc vermouth can vary, but typically include herbs such as chamomile, coriander, and gentian. Blanc vermouth is often used in cocktails that call for a drier, more herbal flavor, such as the Martini or the Gibson. Some popular brands of blanc vermouth include Dolin and Noilly Prat.

Dry Vermouth

Dry vermouth, also known as white or French vermouth, is similar to blanc vermouth in that it is made with a white wine base and is not sweetened. However, dry vermouth is typically infused with a smaller amount of botanicals than blanc vermouth, which gives it a lighter, more subtle flavor profile.

Dry vermouth is typically the lightest in color of the three types of vermouth, with a pale yellow or almost clear color. The botanicals used in dry vermouth can vary, but typically include herbs such as thyme, marjoram, and sage. Dry vermouth is often used in cocktails that call for a very dry, almost imperceptible herbal flavor, such as the Martini or the Gibson. Some popular brands of dry vermouth include Noilly Prat, Martini & Rossi, and Vya.

Today, vermouth is produced in many countries around the world, including Italy, France, Spain, and the United States. While the exact recipe for vermouth can vary from producer to producer, the basic production process remains the same: wine is infused with a blend of botanicals and