22 Irresistible Vermouth Cocktails You Need to Try!
Vermouth has become essential ingredient in many beloved drinks. Today, it’s is an important part of modern mixology. These are some of the vermouth drinks you should try – from classic drinks like martinis and Manhattans to innovative creations like the Old Flame.
As cocktail culture grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, vermouth became an essential ingredient in many beloved drinks. Today, it’s is an important part of modern mixology.
These are some of the vermouth drinks you should try – from classic drinks like martinis and Manhattans to innovative creations like the Old Flame.
What Vermouth Is
Vermouth is a fortified wine that’s made by blending a base wine with a neutral spirit (like brandy) and a mix of herbs and spices. This unique process creates a flavor profile that can be herbaceous, sweet, or even bitter.
The base wine can be either white or red, and adding the neutral spirit increases the alcohol content while preserving the wine’s freshness. Common botanicals used in it include wormwood, chamomile, citrus peels, cinnamon, and gentian root.
Sweet vermouths are usually richer and sweeter, with flavors like caramel and dried fruit. Dry vermouths are more herbal and aromatic, often with a lighter mouthfeel.
Exploring Vermouth Brands and Styles
If you’ve never bought vermouth before, or are looking for new bottles to try, some well-known brands include:
- Noilly Prat (France) – Known for their dry and aromatic styles.
- Dolin (France) – Offers elegant sweet and dry options.
- Carpano Antica Formula (Italy) – A rich sweet vermouth with complex flavors.
- Cinzano (Italy) – Produces both sweet and dry varieties.
- Martini & Rossi (Italy) – A recognizable brand offering a range of styles.
In addition to these classic brands, new craft producers are changing the game:
- Imbue (USA) – Combines local botanicals with California wine.
- Uncouth Vermouth (USA) – A New York brand focused on small-batch production.
- Atsby Vermouth (USA) – Known for its quality dry and aromatic vermouths.
Now let’s get on with the cocktails!
Vermouth Cocktails
The Rob Roy is a Manhattan with scotch instead of bourbon. It's similar enough that if you like the one, you will probably like the other. But it has a distinct taste of its own that scotch lovers will treasure.
Recipe for the Americano classic cocktail which features Campari for a bittersweet cherry flavor. Great for an afternoon pick-me-up.
The Boulevardier drink recipe is a lot like the Negroni, except for one important detail. It uses rye whiskey instead of gin, and the flavor difference is surprising.
The Spicy Martini is just what it sounds like: gin, vermouth and the hot sauce of your choice. You may be worried about drinking hot sauce straight up - and it is pretty intense - but read on.
The Hanky Panky has a flavor that hints at sweet orange with cinnamon and cloves, but isn't quite any of those, and certainly isn't very sweet. The overall flavor is bittersweet, like dark chocolate, with the bitterness and sweetness both present and yet canceling each other out.
The Satan's Whiskers cocktail blends vermouth with a strong orange flavor in the form of fruit juice, Grand Marnier and Triple Sec.
The King of Noble cocktail recipe starts with the usual proportions of gin and vermouth, but to that it adds a touch of apple brandy and triple sec.
The classic Tuxedo cocktail features gin and vermouth with absinthe, maraschino liqueur and more. It's one of those recipes you can tweak and make your own.
The Silver Cocktail mixes gin, dry vermouth and maraschino liqueur with a touch of sweetness and bitters. Think martini with cherry-almond flavor.
The English Rose drink recipe is gorgeous as well as tasty. This bright red cocktail contrasts the sweetness of apricot brandy and grenadine with gin, dry vermouth and lemon. And you can put a sugar rim on it.
The Old Flame cocktail has a nostalgic feel, as you might expect. It's a riff on the Negroni, with orange notes to balance the Campari, vermouth and gin.
This classic gin Martini cocktail recipe is about as dry as the Martini can get. If it's too dry for you, just add more vermouth. The more vermouth, the less dry the drink will be. Be sure to use a great gin that you enjoy, because it will dominate the flavor.
The Negroni is a very simple drink recipe. This classic cocktail features just three ingredients: gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. It tastes like cherry, wine and citrus, but with noticeable bitter notes. It can be a bit of an acquired taste.
The Elderflower Martini takes your standard martini recipe and adds touches of St. Germain's elderflower liqueur and lime. The citrus and herb notes of the traditional martini are rounded out by the full-bodied light sweetness of the elderflower.
If the traditional gin martini isn’t cutting it for you anymore, maybe it’s time for a garlic martini. The martini meets garlic stuffed olives and juice.
The Haymaker cocktail blends orange and lime flavors with whiskey and vermouth. The flavor is complex, starting with fruity notes but ending on the smokiness of the whiskey.
The Manhattan is a sophisticated classic cocktail featuring rye or bourbon with sweet vermouth. It's stirred with ice rather than shaken, and you can serve it on the rocks.
The Cascade Cocktail is an extremely sweet cocktail that tastes like blackcurrant (or raisins) with hints of grape and spice. This version adds gin to make it a bit less sweet and add some delicious herbal notes.
The Vieux Carré cocktail from New Orleans has a timeless charm. Savor the harmonious blend of rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters.
The Blood and Sand cocktail is a classic drink that combines the richness of scotch whisky with the sweetness of orange juice and cherry liqueur.
More Like This
Filed in:
Glassware:
Last Updated: