Vermouth & Apertif

Producer Description 

Carpano Antica Formula is hailed as the "King of Vermouth" by master mixologists and was created by the inventor of modern vermouth. Enhance any cocktail with rich, dark notes of licorice, herbs, figs, cocoa and sweet cinnamon. The most recommended vermouth for Manhattans and Negronis.

The nose has a strong bouquet of vanilla with spice, citrus and subtle notes of almonds, raisins and cloves. The palate is well rounded with a rich vanilla taste. The finish has bitter orange and date notes with a subtle hint of cocoa beans and saffron.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Rich, fruity and enticing, this sweet vermouth is warmed with notes of fig and dried cherries, and just faint hints of spiced gingerbread and bitter orange peel. Drinkable solo as an aperitif, or use it as a cocktail-mixing favorite.

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Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

Producer Description 

A dry vermouth made with a delicate wine base and more than 30 Alpine herbs. It is light, fresh, and clean, with a subtle and complex palate. It is an ideal aperitif or accompaniment to raw shellfish, goat cheese, or pesto. Producer Description.

Producer Description 

At its heart is wine blended with rich Italian herbs: Artemisia, Summer Savory and Dittany balanced with exotic bitter-sweet woods. Its complex and alluring taste has made MARTINI Rosso the key ingredient for several iconic cocktails such as the Negroni or Manhattan. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Cola hue. Sensuous nose features ginger, prunes, sap and bark aromas. In the mouth, its supple, sweet, winey and almost Sherry-like at entry, then at midpalate citrus and grape flavors appear. Finishes luscious and semisweet.

At its heart is wine blended with rich Italian herbs: Artemisia, Summer Savory and Dittany balanced with exotic bitter-sweet woods. Its complex and alluring taste has made MARTINI Rosso the key ingredient for several iconic cocktails such as the Negroni or Manhattan. Producer Descriptio.

Producer Description 

Lillet Blanc is a medium color white wine aperitif from France, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes.

The nose is of honey and orange and a hint of mint. While the nose may lead you to expect a sweet dessert wine, in fact Lillet Blanc leads with a taste of firm bitterness, which suddenly diminishes, leaving a lingering trace of orange, honey and herbaceousness on the palate. 

Expert Review

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | The rounded bouquet features tropical fruit notes of banana and guava, smells of ripe grapes and kiwi and a subtle spiciness. The palate entry is luscious, gently fruity and keenly acidic; midpalate flavors include kiwi, white grapes, raisins, and a vegetal quality. Finish is ripe, delicately spiced, and delicious. An old favorite.

Winemaker Description 

Noilly Prat Original Dry Vermouth is a classic vermouth that perfectly balances herbal complexity with a clean, dry finish. Its nuanced flavors make it an excellent choice for both sipping and as a key ingredient in classic cocktails like the Dry Martini.

Pale golden color with a slight greenish hue, reflecting its freshness and herbal character. The aroma is complex and inviting, with pronounced herbal notes of chamomile, mint, and marjoram. Subtle hints of citrus peel, dried herbs, and a touch of sea breeze add depth and intrigue.

On the palate, Noilly Prat Original Dry is smooth and well-balanced. The herbal notes dominate, with flavors of thyme, chamomile, and marjoram complemented by a delicate citrus zest. The mid-palate offers a touch of green apple and white peach, providing a pleasant fruity counterpoint to the herbal intensity.

The finish is long and dry, with lingering notes of herbs and a slight salinity that leaves a refreshing, clean aftertaste. 

Producer Description 

A dry vermouth made with a delicate wine base and more than 30 Alpine herbs. It is light, fresh, and clean, with a subtle and complex palate. It is an ideal aperitif or accompaniment to raw shellfish, goat cheese, or pesto.

Winemaker Description

14 different herbs and spices are sourced all around the world to make Noilly Prat Extra Dry. Among them Chamomile, Coriander from Morocco, Bitter Oranges from Tunisia or Orris Root from Italy.

Noilly Prat Extra Dry is ideal for preparing a 50:50 Martini Cocktail.14 different herbs and spices are sourced all around the world to make Noilly Prat Extra Dry. Among them Chamomile, Coriander from Morocco, Bitter Oranges from Tunisia or Orris Root from Italy. Producer Description.

Winemaker Description

MARTINI Extra Dry vermouth was launched, with great international success, on New Year's Day in 1900. The Company had been experimenting with the production of dry vermouth since 1890 in some foreign countries, such as Cuba, in order to compete with the French "sec" vermouth. A straw colored vermouth with a sharper perfume, it reveals raspberry, lemon and the subtler hints of iris. This aromatic wine is dry without being bitter, with a white wine base it allows the aromas to come alive in the glass. 

Winemaker Description 

A semi-sweet aperitif with a bouquet of fresh wild herbs, citrus and cinnamon and clove spices. Can be enjoyed in a variety of ways: on the rocks, with juice or soda water, or as an ingredient in numerous cocktails. 

Make sure to chill before serving! 

Winemaker Description 

This vermouth has a lustrous coppery color, gentle aromas of fruit compote, of prunes and walnuts with grassy notes, tempered by spicy aromas like Szechwan pepper... then aromas of almond, citrus, pear and cinnamon with gingerbread, tobacco, oregano and hyssop notes.

This very rich bouquet is tempered by a subtle bitter base wine.

Winemaker Description

Lillet Rouge Aperitif presents a deep, ruby red color, with a nose that reveals an enticing bouquet of ripe red fruits, spices, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, you'll be greeted by rich, fruity flavors of blackberry, cherry, and plum, complemented by subtle notes of spice and herbs.

The finish is smooth and lingering, with a touch of sweetness and a gentle, warming sensation. 

Winemaker Description 

La Fuerza revitalizes the long history of vermouth in Argentina with a modern and forward-looking twist - made from Mendoza-grown grapes and herbs from the Andes.

TASTING NOTES
Earthy notes: mace, juniper, and star anise, with notes of peppermint and green tea. The finish has a touch of dried fruits and spice.

COCKTAIL SUGGESTIONS
La Fuerza Rojo is the perfect addition to a simple spritz, or any other cocktail calling for vermouth like a Negroni or Americano. 

Winemaker Description 

Extra Dry vermouth was launched, with great international success, on New Year's Day in 1900. The Company had been experimenting with the production of dry vermouth since 1890 in some foreign countries, such as Cuba, in order to compete with the French "sec" vermouth. 

A straw colored vermouth with a sharper perfume, it reveals raspberry, lemon and the subtler hints of iris. This aromatic wine is dry without being bitter, with a white wine base it allows the aromas to come alive in the glass. 

Expert Rating

Ultimate Beverage Challenge 91 Points | Complex, earthy, foresty aromas abound in this exotic bouquet that's sweet/sour in nature. Taste is supple, sweet, nutty, almost sherried. 

Winemaker Description

Introduced in 1881, Comoz Vermouth Blanc expressed Claudius Comoz’s selection of wines, plants and fruits, many of which come from the hills above Chambéry. Comoz came to fame as the essential vermouth in the El Presidente cocktail in Cuba. 

Comoz is less sweet than other vermouth blanc, with notes of stone fruits, alpine flowers and a deep, resonant undercurrent of wormwood. This deeper profile marries with whiskey better than any other pale vermouth.

Winemaker Description

La Copa Rojo is based on a Cream Sherry, a blend of 75% Palomino and 25% PX, with the addition of six botanicals; wormwood, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange peel and savory.

Intense spiced aroma, notes of clove and cinnamon stand out, with an elegant bitterness on the finish. On the palate smooth velvety slightly sweet note from the Cream base. Enjoy well chilled on its own or with soda and a slice of orange. A key ingredient in many cocktails. 

Winemaker Description 

100% Macabeu is fermented at low temperatures. Green walnuts, herbs and spices are sourced locally from the Matarrana area and macerated in the wine. The whole concoction is then aged for up to six months in a solera before being bottled in one of the coolest looking bottles on the market.

The Spanish drink vermouth like it's going out of style, but we all know that there's nothing more stylish than pulling out a bottle of fine vermouth to pair with your tapas. What else are you going to do with all your canned fish?

While designed primarily for straight consumption, the Negra lends itself to mixing as well. This one's all about balance! 

Winemaker Description 

Martini & Rossi Bianco vermouth is crafted with a complex botanical blend and the finest base wines for a balanced taste. It speaks to the great tradition of Italian vermouths: bitter enough to stimulate the appetite while having enough sweetness to be enjoyable. The botanicals come through with the hero clearly being the aromatic and flavorful vanilla bean. Best suited to be enjoyed as a classic aperitif. 

Winemaker Description 

This vermouth has a lustrous coppery color, gentle aromas of fruit compote, of prunes and walnuts with grassy notes, tempered by spicy aromas like Szechwan pepper... then aromas of almond, citrus, pear and cinnamon with gingerbread, tobacco, oregano and hyssop notes.

This very rich bouquet is tempered by a subtle bitter base wine.

Vermouth is a fortified, aromatized wine; the ingredien ts are wine, herbs and plants, grape spirit and sugar. The practice of aromatizing wine dates back to the Ancient Greeks. This was formerly done to mask poor wine, or as later to add extra complexity to something already good. It also proved to be an effective form of early, homeopathic medicine. Right up until the 20th century, doctors regularly prescribed Vermouths and aromatized liqueurs for all manner of illness, and many people continue to take a glass per day for medicinal reasons.

The process chez Dolin begins with purchase of base wine, always white, light in alcohol (10% by volume), and as neutral as possible, both on the nose and palate. To this is added a selection of herbs and plants, which are left to macerate several months. The exact recipes are a closely guarded secret, but there are up to 54 different plants used, most notably wormwood, but also hyssop, camomile, genepi, chincona bark and rose petals. The aromatized wine is then lightly sugared, to less than 30 g/l for the Dry and 130 g/l for the Blanc and Rouge.

The color of the Rouge does not come from red base wine, which is unsuitable for elegant Vermouth, and instead comes from the particular plants used, and from sweetening with dark, caramelized sugar. Finally, the Vermouths are fortified - up to 16? for the sweeter styles for the Dry. Chamberyzette is made with the addition of a juice of wild strawberries from the Alps and fortified. 

Winemaker Description 

Pale straw color. Sweet aromas of ripe grapes, pine needles, and spearmint. Sweet for an 'extra dry'. Grapy flavors. Good for mixing.

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Juicy peach nectar and wild strawberry meet vibrant acidity and a floral flicker on the exit. Even the rosy hue is just calling out for mixing with bubbles or gin. Sip or mix.

Producer Description 

Tribuno Sweet Vermouth is a light brown color with a candied nose of ripe peaches. It makes a wonderful mixer. 

For over 170 years, Dubonnet Rouge Grand Aperitif de France has been celebrated around the world as an authority on the aperitif tradition. Crafted from a proprietary blend of red wine, herbs and spices.

Winemaker Description 

Casa Mariol is the revitalization of a century-old, family-owned wine business operating out of La Batea, a medieval town in the heart of Terra Alta. Their white vermouth follows the family's traditional recipe, with a wine base of the Macabeu variety, 100% from their own wines, macerated with more than 150 herbs selected from the locality and rested on its lees.

Brimming with fresh green herbs, bitter citrus and notes of anise and fennel, this verdant and dry vermut is balanced and fresh, perfect with a chill, on the rocks, with a splash of soda or in a martini.

Winemaker Description 

Unique and unmatched. Appreciated the world over for its very high quality. Have it neat and very cold, with soda water and on the rocks decorated with a slice of orange. It is an essential base of mythical cocktails. 

Punt e Mes (it's pronounced "poon't ay mehs") by Carpano, the original Italian aperitivo with a rich heritage dating back to 1870. The name "Punt e Mes" translates to 'Point and a Half' in Italian, and it represents a unique recipe crafted from a combination of sweet vermouth with just the right touch of bitterness.

When you take your first sip of Punt e Mes, you'll experience a delightful sweetness with a subtle hint of orange, followed by a distinctive touch of bitterness, and it all culminates in a pleasingly sweet finish. This timeless blend of flavors has been enjoyed since its inception in 1870, making it a classic choice for those who appreciate a well-crafted Italian aperitivo.

Punt e Mes is known for its dark red color and vermilion-colored veins. Its scent includes the aromas of baked fruit such as prunes and cherries, aromatic herbs, soft caramel, and cloves.

Punt e Mes can be enjoyed on the rocks with a citrus twist, in a spritz or in a variety of cocktails like the Italian Greyhound.

Winemaker Description

Byrrh Grand Quinquina is made to the original late-19th century recipe that earned worldwide fame and inspired fifty years of evocative poster art. Byrrh combines a generous, port-like wine and mistelle base with a firm backbone of natural quinine to produce a fruity, refreshing aperitif.

By itself, with tonic and a twist, or paired with blue cheese. In cocktails, Byrrh mixes well with vodka, gin, tequila, Irish whiskey, and grapefruit. Byrrh is produced in Thuir, in the heart of French Catalan territory, near the coast and border with Spain. 

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | Concentrated dark fruit leads the nose and palate on this garnet-hued aperitif wine infused with quinine. Complex, rich stewed fruit notes suggest cherry pie and Port brushed with vanilla, finishing long with drying hints of plum skin, sage and dried oregano plus a hint of espresso-like bitterness.  Best Buy

Winemaker Description

Lo-Fi Apertifs Gentian Amaro offers predominant aromas of sweet citrus fruit with hints of ginger, exotic flowers and spices are supported by a framework of cinchona bark and bitter root extracts. Adds refreshing fruit flavors and crisp bitterness to a variety of cocktails. Pairs especially well with sparkling wine and aged spirits. Producer Description. 

Winemaker Descripition

A perfect blend of two wines: a dry, mineral and crisp Fino sherry and a sweet and floral Moscatel wine. Intense and bright yellow colour with golden reflections.

 On the nose it shows floral, citrusy and herbaceous notes over a yeasty and mineral base. The finish is bitter and clean with a long, nutty and refreshing aftertaste.

Expert Review 

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | This pale gold, Sherry-based vermouth is made from fino, sweetened with Moscatel wine. Mild, grassy aromas lead into a sweet and citrusy palate, with mouthwatering acidity and a fresh, grassy exit accented by a floral hint.

Producer Description 

Very complex fruit aroma, notes of underbrush, honey, cinnamon, thyme and rosemary with a finish marked by dry nuts. The perfect balance between the bitterness of the absinthe and the sweetness of the overripe fruit.

Elegant and fresh in the mouth, a harmonious finish thanks to the balance between the bitterness of the absinthe and the sweetness of the overripe fruit. Produce Description. 

Winemaker Description

"Whisper” refers to a soft whisper of herbs in wine, a delicate rendition of Vya Extra Dry Vermouth. Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth is appropriate when looking for a lighter style of aperitif wine, used alone or to soothe the edges of your favorite subtle spirit. Herbs like elecampane, orris, linden and fir needles melt into the spirit without overpowering the drink.

Created 12 years after the release of Vya Extra Dry Vermouth, Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth contains the same botanicals and Quady Essensia Orange Muscat in the base, but with a much lighter infusion. This results in an aromatic yet lightly flavored dry white wine experience that provides a more neutral base for cocktails. 

Try Vya Whisper Dry Vermouth chilled on its own with appetizers, or on the rocks with a twist of lemon. It’s like a fine white wine, with a little something extra. Producer Description.