What does sweet vermouth taste like?
Sweet vermouth tastes like a spiced, sweetened wine with herbs: raisin, vanilla, cola and orange peel, a gentle bitter edge, and about 15 to 18% alcohol.
Sweet vermouth
spiced, sweet and herby
Vermouth is wine that's been fortified (strengthened with a little spirit), flavored with herbs and spices and, in this case, sweetened. Sweet vermouth, also called red or rosso, is classically Italian and tastes of dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, orange peel and a mild bitterness from wormwood. Brands range from light and fruity to dark and rich, like Carpano Antica, which tastes almost like vanilla cola. It's the quiet half of a Manhattan and a third of a Negroni. Once it's open, keep it in the fridge.
Where you’ll see it
In the Manhattan, Negroni, Boulevardier, Americano and Rob Roy. Increasingly on its own too: Spanish-style vermut on ice with an orange slice and an olive, often at brunch or aperitivo hour.
Order it if you like Manhattans and Negronis, or want a low-key, bittersweet sip before dinner.
Quick questions
- What's the difference between sweet and dry vermouth?
- Sweet (red) vermouth is sweeter and spicier, used in Manhattans and Negronis. Dry (white) vermouth is crisp, herbal and barely sweet, used in martinis.
- Does vermouth go bad?
- Yes, slowly. It's wine-based, so once opened it fades in the cabinet. Kept in the fridge it stays good for a month or two.