Vermouth: Not just for cocktails
Invented in Italy in the late 1700s, vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices.
Before vermouth was a “cocktail ingredient capable of making or breaking a drink,” it was an apéritif meant to be drunk on its own, said Lauren Viera in the Chicago Tribune. Invented in Turin, Italy, in the late 1700s, vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices—”notably wormwood, from which ‘vermouth’ borrows its name.” Quality bottles can invigorate a martini or Manhattan, but they also make a simple, refreshing tipple served on the rocks with an orange twist.
Cinzano Rouge ($7)
Strong flavors of “candied citrus, cinnamon, and spice” make this vermouth far “too powerful for weaker cocktails.” Have it in a Manhattan or just on the rocks.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Punt e Mes ($21)
With “bitter and citrus notes, like the pith of a lemon,” this vermouth should be drunk with ice and sparkling water.
Carpano Antica ($28)
“Smooth and well balanced, with a bitter edge,” this top-quality vermouth makes a great Manhattan, but can also be enjoyed on ice.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Maha Kumbh Mela: world's largest religious festival gets under way in India
In The Spotlight Politics of Hindu nationalism has cast a shadow over event touted as biggest ever gathering of humanity
By The Week UK Published
-
North Carolina Supreme Court risks undermining its legitimacy
Under the radar A contentious legal battle over whether to seat one of its own members threatens not only the future of the court's ideological balance, but its role in the public sphere
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published