Sweet Vermouth

Sweet vermouth is a wine that has been fortified with a variety of aromatic herbs, spices, barks, and even flowers. These herbs and spices include cardamom, cinnamon, marjoram, chamomile, etc. It contains about 16% alcohol and about 14 to 15% sugar.

Also known as Italian vermouth, this wine is popularly used in cocktails like Manhattan, Negroni, Americano, etc. Traditionally, sweet vermouth is available in rosso (red) color, however, is also available in bianco (white) color. While this wine is used in cocktails, it's also a popular apéritif, and is often served before dinner.

Coming to the origin of the drink, this wine was created by Antonio Benedetto Carpano in 1786. He was from Turin, Italy, and created it after being inspired by a German wine. This German wine was flavored by wormwood, that is used for distilling absinthe. The herbs added to the cheap wines helped mask the raw flavors.

The red variety created by Antonio is also called the Italian vermouth. In the 1800s, Joseph Noilly of France created the first dry vermouth. This is why, this type of vermouth is also known as French vermouth. And this is how the two varieties of vermouth: dry and sweet came about.

There are plenty of cocktails that can be prepared using sweet vermouth. Let's take a look at some popular, tried and tested recipes that you can try out.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Canadian whiskey
• 1 oz. amaretto almond liqueur
• Dash of bitters
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice

Preparation
Take a pitcher and mix the ingredients. To this add 1 teaspoon of maraschino cherry juice. Pour the drink over crushed ice and use a maraschino cherry or slice of orange as garnish.

Ingredients

• 25 ml silver tequila
• 25 ml Campari
• 25 ml sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of orange bitter

Preparation
Take a Delmonico glass filled with ice and pour all the ingredients into it. Stir the ingredients together and chill. Garnish the drink with a grapefruit twist.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin
• ½ oz. sweet vermouth
• ½ oz. Campari
• 1 twist of lemon peel

Preparation
Take a mixing glass filled halfway with ice cubes and add to it gin, vermouth, and Campari. Stir the ingredients well and strain into a cocktail glass. You can garnish your drink with the lemon twist.

Ingredients

• 1½ oz. brandy
• ½ oz. White Creme de Menthe
• ½ oz. sweet vermouth

Preparation
Take a mixing glass and add all the ingredients in it. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve chilled.

You needn't restrict yourself to these cocktail recipes. Use your creativity and come up with your own blend. Who knows, one day people may be sipping your ingenious concoction!