March 21, 2021

March 21st is World Vermouth Day! www.vermouthday.com

We think this wonderful drink is a hidden gem, with a rich history and a powerful taste.

There’s no Martini without vermouth. There’s no Negroni without vermouth. And of course there’s no Vermuttino without vermouth!

We’ve been asked a lot about this wonderful drink recently on our virtual cocktail masterclasses (usually as we’re stirring up a Manhattan or a Martini)!

So here’s our rundown on this wonderful drink……

So what is vermouth? Well, we think it’s the unsung hero of cocktails. A aromatised fortified wine, in which wormwood is a popular ingredient in these infusions. It’s the German word for wormwood – wermut – that gives it’s name to the drink.

Through the years vermouth transformed from a medicinal tonic to an enjoyable libation. Italy’s Piedmont and France’s Savoie regions became the heart of production, thanks to their alpine terrain, rich in wormwood and other botanicals.

Vermouth’s popularity rose in the 19th century, when bartenders began to use it as a key ingredient in the popular new drinks called cocktails. Over time vermouth became a key ingredient in classics such as Negroni, Manhattan, Americano and Martini.

Historically their are two types of vermouth: sweet red or dry white. Today the selection is more sophisticated and the range of styles includes extra-dry white, sweet white (bianco, blanc), red (rosso, rouge, roux), amber (ambrato, ambre) and rose.

Because it’s a fortified wine, an open bottle will keep for much longer than regular wine. But unlike spirits, an opened bottle of vermouth will gradually oxidise and deteriorate over time. So keep your open bottle in the fridge and it will keep for up to three months.

Saluti!