Call it red, rosso or sweet vermouth – we love it, but we don’t love its shelf life. Luckily there are plenty of ways to use it up.
Here at Dan’s Daily, we think sweet vermouth deserves a shoutout. Often referred to as red or rosso vermouth, this richly aromatic fortified wine is as versatile as it gets. Funnily enough, although it goes by the name ‘rosso’ meaning ‘red’ in Italian, sweet vermouth is typically made with a white wine base and receives its colour from caramelised sugar or caramel colouring. The wine is then aromatised – meaning ingredients like herbs, bark, citrus and the like are added for aroma and flavour – and fortified with additional alcohol. The one non-negotiable with vermouth is the addition of wormwood. This bitter and aromatic herb is what gives vermouth its distinctive flavour, and it’s also the source of the drink’s name, derived from the Germanic word for wormwood, "wermut".
Whether you’re sipping it straight, over ice or with a splash of soda as an aperitif to get your tastebuds working before dinner, it’s a hard-working tipple and can play much more than a supporting role in your cocktail. When it does play that role though, it’s a wonderful thing. The only downfall is sweet vermouth’s shelf life – like wine, its life is limited. All good things must come to an end, and if you don’t store your bottle correctly (i.e. in the fridge) that will happen way too quickly.
So, here’s a round-up of some of our favourite cocktails to make once you’ve opened a bottle (or, to be honest, seven good reasons to buy a bottle in the first place). Anything with whisky, gin, or other aperitifs like Campari is a safe bet. Let’s get mixing.
