20 Best Vermouths For Cocktails, Drinking Straight, And More
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Vermouth is one of the best fortified wines that has been flavored with various herbs, spices, and roots. They are often consumed as an apéritif and are popularly known as a critical ingredient in notable cocktails like Manhattan, Martini, and Negroni.
There are mainly two types of Vermouth: red or sweet from Italy and white or dry from France with many varieties. In this blog post, we will review 20 of the best vermouth brands to try!
Our Top Picks
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Best for Cocktails - Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambery• Complex aromatic blend |
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Best for Sipping Neat - Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth• Refined and distinctive taste |
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Best Dry Option - Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth• Famously used for a classic dry martini |
1. Lo-Fi Aperitifs Dry Vermouth
While most Vermouth is made from grapes grown in France, California-based Lo-Fi Aperitifs use locally sourced grape juice to produce their dry Vermouth. Lo-Fi Aperitifs Dry Vermouth is a fantastic drink that combines citrus rind, elderflower, coriander, and more.
Complex spicy flavors are balanced with refreshing fruit flavors from the Muscat Canelli grapes in this unique beverage. There are also sweet anise and coriander aromas that add to the overall experience of Lo-fi's newest creation. At first taste, the creaminess of this Vermouth is immediately apparent.
It has a balanced mouth feel and creamy texture with an acidic pH level that allows it to be well-balanced in the flavor profile. This versatile product pairs perfectly with dry cider, gin, or rye whiskey for unique cocktail recipes!
2. Contratto Vermouth Rosso
Those looking for a dry, herbaceous after-dinner drink should look no further than Contratto Vermouth Rosso. It is made from estate-grown Cortese grapes and mixes fresh herbs such as coriander, laurel, chamomile, cinnamon, ginger, and more to create a complex flavor profile that invigorates the taste buds while elongating the palate.
This highly sophisticated and cocktail-friendly Vermouth makes an ideal choice for any occasion when you require an equally elegant yet discreet beverage. Change things up even on your next happy hour by switching out gin or vodka with this versatile Italian red!
3. Cinzano Rosso Sweet Vermouth
Cinzano Sweet Vermouth is a sweet, complex drink that's perfect for sipping. It was first made in 1757 and has since been among the most famous brands of Vermouth. Made with secret herbs and spices, it has notes of citrus and cinnamon and dried fruit and herbs.
The sweetness balances out the bitter aftertaste, perfectly giving this Vermouth an intense flavor profile worth savoring slowly on its own or mixed into your favorite cocktails like martinis!
If you want to save a little cash but still have the satisfaction of having your bar at home with all your favorite spirits and wines available - Cinzano is an inexpensive addition that will jazz up any drink. This sweet Vermouth can give whiskey-based drinks some extra oomph!
4. Lillet Blanc
Lillet Blanc is a French wine made from white grapes. It isn't technically Vermouth because it doesn't contain any wormwood (the botanical that gives Vermouth its bitter taste). However, it does show similarities with Vermouth in that it is an aperitif and has herbaceous flavors.
Lillet comes in dry and sweet varieties, with quinine providing light bitterness instead of wormwood. Lillet Blanc is crafted from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. When you smell it, the first thing that comes to mind is honey with hints of orange and mint.
When tasted, Lillet's flavors are bitter at first but quickly dissipate into sweet tastes of oranges along with some herbaceousness on your palate!
5. Antica Torino Sweet Vermouth
Antica Torino Sweet Vermouth has an amber hue and walks that line between sweet and bitter effortlessly. It has a bit more pigment than its dry counterpart but with the same aromatic excellence that just can't be replicated elsewhere. It has a floral upfront but drier finish, perfect for everything from sipping straight up or adding flair to cocktails like a Boulevardier or Manhattan.
Seriously, as if they didn't already have enough exciting flavors, this one somehow manages to give us even more options. It is made from Bombino, Freisa,Trebbiano, Moscato grape varieties. This all-natural and traditionally made Italian Vermouth has a bright flavor with citrus, wormwood, rhubarb, and gentian hints.
6. Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
So you've finished dinner and want to unwind, maybe with a digestif? Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino is the perfect choice for those people looking for something different. It has been produced since its inception in 1891. Rich and flavorful, its cacao notes and botanical ingredients such as ginger, rhubarb, and citrus give it an enticing taste that will satisfy your palate.
And you know what else makes it so great? It's made up of Moscato wine from Piedmont, which is the reason behind the more floral aroma and flavor! When it comes to liquid companions, Angostura bitters are always a match made in heaven.
7. Carpano Punt E Mes
Carpano Punt E Mes is for the more daring drinkers. It's got a lot more of an intense flavor. The perfect drink to sip solo and impress your friends with your sophisticated palate, not to mention how revolutionary you are in this era of sweet wine fads. The Carpano Punt E Mes is an absolute must-have.
Its 15-herb recipe has a rich history that spans more than 150 years ago, and it can be used in both mixers and on its own for an outstanding drinking experience. Plus, this artisanal Vermouth makes for some classic cocktails like Martinis or Negronis. So pick up your bottle today to add to your home bar!
8. Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth
In 1900, Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth made its debut on New Year's Day after ten years of development. The masses soon consumed this Vermouth and became a popular drink of choice in social settings such as parties and receptions. It dominated throughout the century with one particular cocktail - the famous Dry Martini & Rossi cocktail.
Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth is a classic with its sharp citrus aromas and raspberry notes that add to its lively taste. The Vermouth has been crafted from three years' worth of orris root, which contributes uniquely tart aromatic oils while retaining the flavor's distinguished floral scent. To make this concoction even more delightful, try it in your favorite martinis!
9. Vermut Lustau Vermouth Red
Lustau Vermut Red is made with high-quality amontillado and Pedro Ximénez sherries, along with the usual botanicals like wormwood, gentian, orange peels, and coriander. A Manhattan cocktail can be made with it in many different ways, but no matter how it's prepared, the result will always delight your taste buds.
When mixed with rye whiskey, the rich notes are complemented by Lustau Sherry which adds an incredible flavor to the drink. Furthermore, mixing Angostura Bitters with it adds just enough spice. At the same time, the sweet Vermouth balances out all of the flavors perfectly, resulting in a delicious tipple with great depth without being overly sweet or bitter.
10. Badenhorst Caperitif Kaapse Dief
In 1930, the Caperitif company shut down along with its product and recipe. Since then, it was called a "ghost ingredient" among bartenders worldwide because no one could find or recreate it again until Adi Badenhorst launched his version of this Capetinif after nearly a century.
A high-quality white wine starts off the process. Next, it is fortified with a grape-derived alcohol spirit to get at least 16% ABV, and then 45 different ingredients are added.
The Badenhorst Caperitif Kaapse Dief contains many fruits, garden herbs, spices, flower roots, and barks for bitterness and its unique character of fynbos, which creates an interesting taste experience that sets this brand apart from other wines on the market today.
11. Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambery
Dolin Dry is a French Vermouth with complex aromatics like chamomile, cinchona bark, rose petals, and wormwood. The blend of these herbs gives it an earthiness that makes it great for cocktails. They add depth to the drink rather than just sweetness from sugar or bitterness due to quinine, typical in sweet and bitter French vermouths.
If you're looking for something less intense than other dry vermouths but still want the flavor, Dolin is an excellent choice. It's well-balanced and has a fantastic flavor, making it one of the best choices for drinkers, bartenders, and mixologists.
12. Alessio Vermouth Bianco
The original Vermouth Bianco is an Italian vermouth from Chambéry, France. It was created to compete with traditional sweet vermouths in Turin, Italy, and likely invented around the early 1880s. The ingredients are similar, but it has been filtered clear so that no color remains behind., garnering the label "semi-sweet."
Bright and crisp citrus finish tones down the spiciness of mild bitterness and warms your palate. Enjoy this as a refreshing alternative to traditional Bianco vermouth in cocktails like Martinis or Manhattans, where you would generally use them.
13. Mata Vermouth Blanco
Mate Vermouth Blanco is made through the process of maceration, wherein vinified wine is left to steep with various roots, flowers, and savory herbs. These included bitter orange peel (tastes similar to sour oranges), sage (a type of herb that tastes like a blend between balsamic vinegar and pine needles), thyme, or star anise.
Once it's finished extracting all these flavors from its ingredients in 40 days, it gets filtered before being slightly fortified. For a rounder mouthfeel, wine spirits are added along with a small amount of grape must. On its own, this Vermouth is sweet and bitter with a hint of orange. It's the perfect balance for an afternoon drink when served over ice, along with some mint or thyme leaves to garnish it.
14. Gonzalez Byass La Copa Vermouth Extra Seco
La Copa Extra Seco is Spanish vermouth with a complex blend of spices. It's made from dry fino sherries that underwent aging for three years in American oak casks using the traditional solera system. It contains wormwood, savory, clove, cinnamon as well as red fruits such as raspberry. The result is a long-lasting balsamic aftertaste which makes this brand truly unique.
This world-famous Vermouth is inspired by Gonzalez Byass' Tio Pepe and the winery's specialization within Fino Sherry. It features intense citrus aromas that are balanced with delicious bitter touches of wormwood and savory flavors. The red fruits add a lush finish to close out your experience in an exciting punch!
15. Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth
Carpano Antica Formula vermouth is beloved by critics and home bartenders alike. It is well-known for both its flavor and quality. The exact recipe of this sweet Vermouth is so guarded that only a few people know it!
This popular drink has won Wine Enthusiast's prestigious 95 points rating multiple times, as well as many other accolades from bartenders across the world.
This Vermouth packs a punch and exhibits a wide flavor profile of vanilla, rose petal, orange zest, chamomile, and cocoa. The nose is just as intricate with mint, citrus herbs, and figs. The sweetness balances out against its intensely bitter finish making it excellent for sipping on its own or in a Manhattan cocktail.
16. Pio Cesare Barolo Chinato
The color of the Pio Cesare NV Barolo Chinato is a dark amber that emits shiny chestnut highlights. This fortified digestif has terrific purity and intensity, with scents you can easily distinguish, such as balsam, medicinal herb, minty cough syrup, cola soda, and candied orange peel.
If you give it time, this Vermouth will reveal notes of Moroccan spice and toasted Spanish cedar wood. It's a bit strong at 16% alcohol content, but the sweetness is balanced, making up for the high alcoholic volume.
Pio Cesare's family recipe infuses cinchona in a small amount of their classic Barolo for 21 days. They add a mixture of aromatic herbs such as gentian roots, rhubarb, cardamom seeds, sweet and bitter orange, along with cinnamon to create this blend after aging it slightly.
17. Manuel Acha Vino Vermouth Rojo
Manuel Acha Vino Vermouth Rojo is a vermouth designed for sipping. It's made in a lighter style than other European red vermouths, so it's not as rich and intense as its Italian counterparts. But it doesn't mean that it's a lesser kind. Anyone who has tried Acha knows how wonderfully balanced this drink is.
Acha Vermouth is a balanced herbal-forward wine that can serve as an apéritif or your favorite cocktail. It includes sour cherry jam, plum skin, and dried Mission figs, which create bright fruit notes to balance its bold flavor profile. You can simply prepare a drink by pouring this over ice and garnishing it with an orange slice.
18. Massican Sweet Red Vermouth 2018
Cinzano Vermouth is a veritable masterpiece. The Cinzano family has been producing vermouths since the 18th century, and their legacy of quality shows true in this dry white blend that's perfect for cocktails or on its own with soda water to cut through the strength.
Famous worldwide, this Vermouth began as dry white wines made from various wines then macerated into an aromatic potion using coriander seeds, nutmeg flakes, orange peel, and more. To make the flavors cohesive, the mixture is then aged in used French oak barrels, where just before bottling, they add a small percentage of sugar to help soften the bitterness.
19. Quady Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth
Add a little sophistication to your life with Quady Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth. This light dry wine is fortified with up to 18% alcohol and is the perfect base for a much more creative and artisanal martini than what you might find at most bars.
It has additions of flowers, dried citrus rind, and other deliciously subtle herbs. Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth is minimally processed. It maintains a balance of floral, herbal, and vinous notes, resulting in an engaging, slightly bitter flavor with a mysterious note of coolness. Also, this is said to be an ideal pairing with vodka or gin.
20. Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
Noilly-Prat is among the oldest active vermouth producers that have been around since 1815. However, in 2012, it appeared in Skyfall and quickly garnered a reputation as James Bond's official brand of choice. Noilly Prat is also enjoying renewed fame thanks to its recent popularity, with consumers drawn by the iconic black label design on their distinctive bottle.
The recipe for Vermouth is a well-guarded secret, but there are hints that it contains 30 different herbs and spices. The winemakers who make the drink have been tweaking the formula since its inception to create an incredibly flavorful beverage with just enough sweetness and bitterness. It can be enjoyed by itself but shines when mixed in cocktails or added to tonic water as you like.
Conclusion
There's no denying that Vermouth is a delicious drink. Whether you use it for cocktails, for imbibing, or even as a white wine substitute in cooking, the best vermouths are always enjoyable because they come in several varieties and flavors.
There are many wines out there, but only some provide quality and value that cannot disappoint. Which bottle of Vermouth did you find most appealing? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
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