Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine used as a mixer in cocktails or as an appetizer. It was created in 1786 by Antonio Benedetto Carpano, who added brandy and a blend of herbs and spices. There are also dry and half-sweet versions available, and it should be stored in a cool place and refrigerated once opened.
Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine with an alcohol content of about 16% and a sugar percentage of about 14-15%. It is used as a mixer in drinks such as martinis and manhattans, and is also sometimes offered as an appetizer to whet the appetite before a meal. Many markets and liquor stores carry sweet vermouth, along with related beverages; it can also be purchased through import shops, for consumers who want a particular brand.
The concept of fortifying wines with brandy or other distilled spirits is quite ancient, although the recipe for sweet vermouth didn’t come about until 1786, when it was developed by Antonio Benedetto Carpano. Carpano added brandy to the wine and then blended a blend of herbs and spices, including absinthe, an unfortunately toxic substance that was a popular additive in alcoholic beverages at the time. He named the drink “vermouth” after Wermut, the German word for “absinthe.”
Capano’s sweet vermouth had a complex flavor from the blend of herbs and spices used, along with an alcoholic kick from the brandy that fortified it. Over time, a drier version arose; some people call sweet vermouth Italian vermouth to differentiate it from the drier French style. Italian vermouth tends to develop a red color as it’s processed, while French vermouth generally remains colorless, even though both use white wines as a base. Italian vermouth can be found labeled “rosso” for red, and the occasional white variety is labeled “bianco” for white.
Some distillers also produce a version of vermouth that blends sweet and dry traits. It’s called “half-sweet” or “half-dry” vermouth, depending on one’s point of reference, and it’s suitable for a range of things including cooking, mixing mixed drinks, and consuming as an apéritif. When selecting vermouth, you should read labels carefully to make sure you get the variety you want, as dry, sweet, and semi-sweet vermouth behave very differently and have unique flavors and textures.
Typically, sweet vermouth is reasonably stable until opened, although it should be stored in a reasonably cool place. Once opened, it must be refrigerated and used within one year. If you’re using your sweet vermouth for cocktails, you may want to consider replacing the lid with a spout so you can easily pour the vermouth for drinks. Some spouts come with regulators so they can measure a precise amount of liquid; this feature can be quite convenient.
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