Because it’s far more versatile than you might think.

After an evening spent slinging Martinis or Negronis for your dinner guests, you’ve probably found yourself with a half-bottle of vermouth and wondered what on earth to do with it. That bottle tends to go back on the bar cart – or, if you’re like us, squeezed onto a pantry shelf – and gets a little forgotten. And we know it’s tempting to wait until the next Martini- or Negroni-worthy event, but trust us when we say there are so many other interesting ways to use that vermouth.

Don’t believe us? We reckon vermouth is one of the great quiet achievers of the drinks world. It can do some impressive heavy lifting and delivers distinctive flavours to a whole range of other drinks.

What is vermouth?

Vermouth falls into the fortified wine category, which means it’s a wine that’s been enhanced with brandy and infused with herbs and botanicals. Vermouth was originally created as a medicinal tonic and gets its name from the German word for wormwood, which is one of the key ingredients in the herby infusion.

There are many incredible styles of vermouth now available that are made here in Australia and further afield. But if you really want to geek out on vermouth and understand exactly how it’s made, this fortified wine is surprisingly easy to make from scratch at home. Whatever you do, though, just remember to keep your open vermouth in the fridge. And even then, you’ll want to use it within about four weeks so it’s at its best.

What does vermouth taste like?

Fast-forward a few centuries since vermouth’s creation and there are now two main types – dry and sweet – and each has different flavour profiles and uses. Dry white vermouth is the bottle you’ll have left after those aforementioned Martinis. It was originally created in France, with the colour coming from a white wine base. It’s crisp, aromatic and herbacous with lifted citrus and floral notes, but it is also often a little bitter.

At the other end of the spectrum is red vermouth, which is sweet and almost vanilla scented. This style is richer and bittersweet, and commonly delivers more pungent herbal notes than its dry counterparts.

Vermouth might be best known for standing alongside well-known spirits in cocktails, but this often overlooked aperitif is more than worthy of its own spotlight and is making a comeback. Below, we’ve shared our favourite other ways to enjoy vermouth. Whether you like it dry or sweet, there’s a vermouth option here for everyone.

The striking bottle of Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth

Other ways to drink vermouth

1. Vermouth on the rocks

Don’t mess with perfection, right? Vermouth is a complex mix of herbs, spices, and botanicals, and by serving it straight you get to celebrate all those elaborate aromas and flavours. You can serve it neat, but most people prefer vermouth on the rocks (preferably a large cube so it doesn’t dilute too much).

To bring out the best of the vermouth, add a citrus twist, orange for red vermouth or lemon for white. A favourite of ours is Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, one of the first vermouths ever made. It’s one of the best ways to kick off an elaborate meal, with the aperitif whetting your appetite and preparing your taste buds for the oncoming courses.

$73.99 each

2. Vermouth and tonic

Gin’s not the only one that knows how to party with tonic. Mixing up a vermouth and tonic is a great way to cool off when the weather is warm, but we love it at other times, too. The logic is much the same as the classic G&T combo, using the tonic to highlight the botanicals and spices within the vermouth.

The plus side of using vermouth instead of gin is that you end up with a refreshing drink that’s lower in alcohol. Noilly Prat Original French Dry Vermouth is one of the most famous vermouths and well suited to tonic. Round it out with a splash of lemon juice, kick back and enjoy.

$38.99 each

A bottle of Martini Rosso sweet vermouth

3. Spritz it up

You probably guessed we’d include a Spritz because vermouth is such a great aperitif, just like the much-loved Aperol. And that’s exactly what makes sweet vermouth a delicious option for an easy, three-ingredient Spritz.

The Vermouth Spritz is so straight-forward you really can’t mess it up. Just mix two-parts sweet vermouth – we like Martini Rosso Vermouth – and four-parts soda water. Throw in a slice of orange and a green Sicilian olive to finish it off, and you’ve got yourself the perfect pre-dinner drink. You can even pretend you’re at an Italian piazza instead of sitting on the couch.

$20.99 each

4. Endless Martini riffs

Look, we know we’ve been banging on about how vermouth is so much more than a Martini, but we have to point out that there are a gazillion ways to make this iconic cocktail. Some might even argue that many aren’t even a “Martini”, but we’ll leave that debate to others. There is, of course, the classic Martini, which remains a cult favourite, but there are so many others to try.

Everybody has their own preference, but we love a Dirty Martini made with Cinzano Extra Dry Vermouth. It’s the perfect combination of savoury, salty and crisp. But if you’re into more tang, you might like to make the Salt & Vinegar Martini or the Tomatini, which showcases the tomato (true story), or give it a sweet, floral kick in the Elderflower Martini. Experiment away.

$21.99 each

5. Other cocktails, of course

Dry and sweet styles of vermouth are absolute MVPs in other cocktails. If you prefer the crisp, floral and slightly bitter notes of dry vermouth, you’re going to want to make a bunch of other cocktails. We’re big fans of the Brown Butter & Sage Sour, as just one place to start.

If you lean more to sweet vermouth styles, then you’re spoilt for choice, not just with cocktails, but also with product (we love the Aussie Maidenii Sweet Vemrouth) There is, of course, the beloved Negroni. That takes you to all kinds of riffs, including the Americano. But then you can veer in all directionss – think the classy Bijou, Brazilian Rabo de Galo, Martinez and so may more.

$51.99 each