Vermouth by Brand

Atsby

New World vermouth producer based in New York City. Products utilize wines from the North Fork of Long Island (Chardonnay) and fortification with apple brandy from upstate New York. The Amberthorn product is drier, has 21 botanicals, and is sweetened with honey. The Armadillo Cake is sweeter, has 32 botanicals, and is sweetened with caramel. Neither vermouth contains wormwood, and neither is immitative of any Continental style of vermouth. Introduced in September 2012.

• Amberthorn
• Armadillo Cake

Web site: http://atsbyvermouth.com/

Boissiere

(bwah-zee-AIR)

Originally, Boissiere was a major Chambéry brand. In 1971, the brand was instead applied to a Torino vermouth, Bosca Cora, which it remains to this day.

• “Bone White” Dry
• Sweet vermouth [red]

Carpano

(car-PAH-no)

In Torino, 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented the commercial model for what we know today as red vermouth, possibly even coining the term “vermuth.” The Carpano brand was formalized some years later by Carpano's nephew. The red vermouths of subsequent producers, such as Cinzano and Gancia, were their own riffs on what Carpano first successfully marketed. Today, production is in Milano, Italy.

• Punt e Mes (“Point-and-a-half”)
• Antica Formula
• Carpano Classico*
• Carpano Bianco*

*not imported to the USA

Punt e Mes dates to around 1867 and is simultaneously amongst the bitterest and sweetest of vermouths. Punt e Mes is a rare example of a “vermouth amaro,” or “vermouth con bitter,” a style of vermouth with extra bitters added. Adulterating Vermouth di Torino with bitters or vanilla flavoring—almost like a cockail—when drinking it is an Turinese custom almost as old as vermouth itself; this style has bitters built-in. Although it is not typically described or marketed as such, Punt e Mes can be thought of as a bottled vermouth cocktail. Punt e Mes is Carpano's top-selling vermouth.

Antica Formula is a highly-regarded product first introduced in the 1990s. Antica Formula is an example of the “vermouth alla vaniglia” style: a red vermouth with added vanilla flavoring and sugar to balance. Note: Antica Formula is based on an old recipe, but it is not Carpano's original vermouth recipe.

Carpano Classico is the contemporary expression of the product that was Carpano’s original commercial vermouth. Its similarity to that original product remains an open question. Availability is limited. Anecdotal reports are that it is, at the least, a good red vermouth.

Web site: http://www.brancainternational.com or http://www.branca.it (The Carpano brand is currently owned by the Milanese firm Branca.)

Also, see this vintage promotional booklet (PDF-12MB) containing an official history as well as interesting visual materials. The date of this booklet is unknown (1970s?), but it predates the brand’s acquisition by Branca and the relocation of production to Milan.

Cinzano

(chin-ZAH-no)

Brand of successful liqueur manufacturer from Pecetto that can trace its history to 1757. An early producer of vermouth based on Carpano's model. Now one of the world's most recognizable spirits brands. Check the label for current production.

• Rosso
• Bianco
• Extra Dry
• Rosé (vermouth with a rosé & white wine base)*

*not imported to the USA

Cinzano recently introduced fruit-flavored vermouth products in select European markets.

Web site: http://www.cinzano.com (The Cinzano brand is currently owned by Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A.)

Cocchi

(KOE-kee)

The house of Cocchi is a Torino winery known for an array of still, sparkling and fortified muscat wines. In 2011 they revived their house vermouth, resulting in the first genuine Vermouth di Torino (protected designation of origin) available in the USA in many years. Production is in Torino, Italy.

• Vermouth di Torino (rosso)

Web site: alpenz.com or http://www.cocchi.com

Contratto

(con-TRAH-toe)

Prominent sparkling wine producer in Piemonte. New ownership has brought their 19th Century vermouth and americano products back into production, with emergent distribution in the United States.

• Contratto Vermouth Rosso
• Contratto Vermouth Bianco

Web site: www.contratto.it

Dolin

(doe-LEEN)

Produced in Chambéry (shahm-bay-RHEE), France. Appellation d' Origine. Invented the blanc style in 1821. Dolin's particularly light, particularly dry “Dry” vermouth also dates to 1821 and is representative of the Chambéry style of dry vermouth.

• Rouge
• Blanc
• Dry

Web site: http://www.alpenz.com

Gallo

Produced in California, United States.

• Sweet [red]
• Dry

Gancia

(GAWN-chee-uh)

Produced in Canelli, Italy. Available in some US markets.

• Rosso
• Bianco
• Dry

Web site: http://www.gancia.it/

Imbue

Produced in Portland, Oregon.

A regional artisanal aperitif product based on Oregon Pinos gris not imitative or representative of any particular European style of vermouth.

• Imbue Bittersweet Vermouth

Web site: http://www.imbuecellars.com/

MAiDENii

Novel vermouths from Australia featuring regional botanicals, including Australian-grown wormwood.

• Sweet*
• Dry*

*not imported to the USA

Web site: http://maidenii.com.au

Mancino

(man-CHEE-no)

Novel vermouths created by Italian bartender Giancarlo Mancino and produced in Canelli, Italy (Asti).

• Rosso Amaranto*
• Bianco Ambrato*
• Secco*

*not imported to the USA

Web site: http://www.mancinovermouth.com

Martelletti

Produced in Cocconato, Italy.

• Vermouth Classico [red]

Not a lot of information is readily available about this vermouth, which appeared in select markets in the USA in recent years. It appears to be made by a Piedmont winery moderately well known for their Barolo and related wines. It also appears to be exceptionally good.

Martini & Rossi

Originated in Torino, Italy, 1863, but relocated shortly thereafter to nearby Pessione, Martini & Rossi was agile and adept at distribution and export from the start. The firm achieved success in the U.S. market early on, just as vermouth was catching on there in the later 19th Century, and they remain the market leader. Martini & Rossi is one of the world's great liquor brands, recently promoted in most markets simply as “Martini”. Check label for current production; contents may vary significantly in different markets which is a cause for concern.

• Rosso
• Bianco
• Extra Dry
• Rosato (red & white wine base)
• d’Oro*

*not imported to the USA

Additional products are available under this brand in some markets.

Web site: http://www.martini.com (Martini & Rossi is part of Bacardi Limited.)

Noilly Prat

(NWAH-ee PRAH)

Produced in Marseillan, France, near Montpelier. Last representative of the Marseilles style of vermouth. In addition to the regional ingredients on which it is based, barrel aging plays a definitive role in these products.

• Original French Dry
• Rouge†
• Ambre*
• Extra Dry (2012)

†export only for the USA market, introduced in the 1960s

*not imported to the USA

Noilly Prat Ambre is a nascent hybrid product available primarily at the factory tourist center. Indications are that the company is beginning to roll this product out to a larger market, first in Europe.

After World War II, Noilly Prat began exporting a lighter formulation of their dry vermouth to the USA intended to cater to American tastes, especially Martini cocktail drinkers. This product was arguably an imitation of the Chambéry dry style. Fifty years later, in 2008, Noilly Prat discontinued the special U.S. formulation and phased in the European formula in updated packaging, resulting in a fair amount of confusion and angst amongst Americans devoted to a very particular Martini habit. Sales in the US market plummetted, so in 2012, Noilly Prat put their lighter variation on dry vermouth back into production, bottled as “Extra Dry”.

Web site: http://www.noillyprat.com/

Perucchi

Vermouth producer from Cataluña, Spain. Founded in the 19th Century by D. Augustus Perucchi.

• Rojo
• Blanco
• Extra Dry

Web site: http://www.perucchi.info/

Regal Rogue

Novel Australian vermouths featuring botanicals grown in Australia. As of this writing, rolling out in Australia and Hong Kong, with Europe and South America to follow.

• Rosso*
• Bianco*
• Extra Dry*

*not imported to the USA

Web site: http://www.regalrogue.com

Riserva Carlo Alberto

Vermouth di Torino built on Erbaluce di Caluso and Moscato di Asti white wines.

• Rosso*
• Bianco*
• Extra Dry*

*not imported to the USA

Web site: http://www.riservacarloalberto.com

Stock

Stock is a brandy distillery based in Trieste, Italy, that applies its brand to a diverse array of products, including vermouths.

• Rosso
• Bianco
• Extra Dry

Web site: http://www.stock-spa.it/

Sutton Cellars

Produced in the United States by Sutton Cellars (San Francisco, California), a small artisanal producer. For context, see “New World/Western Dry”

• Brown Label Vermouth

Web site: http://www.suttoncellars.com

Tribuno

Produced in the United States by The Wine Group, an infamously faceless conglomerate that specializes in mass-market wines.

• Sweet
• Dry

Uncouth Vermouth

Locavore boutique producer of limited edition flavored vermouths out of Red Hook, Brooklyn. Although flavored vermouths are nothing new, these products are unrecognizable as vermouth from the perspective of the European tradition and something we haven’t really seen before. Contains mugwort.

• Apple Mint
• Pear Ginger
• Butternut Squash
• Beet Eucalyptus
• Serrano Chile Lavender

Web site: http://www.uncouthvermouth.com

Vermouth del Professore

Revivalist Vermouth di Torino (rosso) produced under the auspices of the Jerry Thomas Speakeasy in Rome.

• Rosso*

*not imported to the USA

Web site: on Facebook

Vya

(VAI-uh)

Produced by Quady Winery (Madera, California), a small artisanal producer of aperitif and dessert wines from Muscat varieties. Quady entered the vermouth market in the 1990s, a pioneer. For context, see “New World/Western Dry”

• Extra Dry
• Sweet
• Whisper Dry (2012)

Web site: http://www.quadywinery.com/

Yzaguirre

(EES-uh-GEE-ray)

Vermouth brand of Cellar Sort del Castell near Tarragona, Spain.

• Classic Red*
• Classic White*
• Rosado*
• Red Reserva*
• White Reserva*
• Dry Reserva*
• Selección 1884*
• Francisco Simo Y Cia*

*not known to yet be imported to the USA

Web site: http://vermutyzaguirre.com

Others

To the outsider who starts digging, it would seem that nearly every man, woman and child of Torino produces their own line of vermouth. While some remain regional products or even unique to a particular restaurant, some make their way into various export markets. If you have the priviledge of traveling to Torino (or other parts of the world), you may encounter various brands not represented here. Some may be of interest, some may not be distinctive. The important thing is to be aware how common vermouths are in some regions, particularly Piemonte. Some examples, in no particular order: Barona, Bosca, Chatel, Garrone, Kedem, La Canellese, Nando, Melchior, Perlino, Ponti, Rica Donna, Romanetti, Versasi.