The Bar Journal

Italy is the home of great culture, history, and people. Italian food is second to none, and so, are the country’s fantastic wines. But long before these modern phenomena were conceived, Italy’s original capital, Turin gave birth to something even greater: VERMOUTH.

The aromatized wine, which is now produced and enjoyed everywhere from America to Asia, can trace its basic blueprint back here, circa the 1700s. Over two centuries later, Italian vermouth went on to play a formative role in shaping today’s craft cocktail movement.

Nowadays modern bartenders and mixologists around the world can’t seem to get enough of it. But, what about cocktails? The craft cocktail boom heralded a renewed interest in bitter-forward drinks such as the NEGRONI — a full third of which is pure vermouth.

Here is a trio of a delicious classic cocktail that enhances the less common style of Vermouth, the dry or sec :

CARDINALE 

With its modern and elegant art deco style, Orvm Bar at The Westin Excelsior Rome is still a landmark of the Eternal City. It’s right here that in 1950 a cocktail was born, and in a short time became one of the most representative drinks of the Roman Dolce Vita and an icon of the mixology in the world: the Cardinale cocktail.

30ml London Dry Gin

30ml DRY VERMOUTH

30ml Campari Bitter

Rock glass

Garnish with orange peel zest.

CHRYSANTHEMUM

The Chrysanthemum is a fairly unique drink that marries dry vermouth and Benedictine with a splash of absinthe.

It yields a simple and sophisticated herbal cup with a light body and dominated by fortified wine.

60ml  DRY VERMOUTH

15 ml Dom Benedectine

Garnish with an orange twist

Coupe Glass

NEGRONI BIANCO 

Inspired by the classic recipe, Giuseppe Gallo has created a new version for the launch of his brainchild ITALICUS.

Combining bitterness and sweetness with the Rosolio di Bergamotto, the gin and dry style of Vermouth is a perfect balance for a great cocktail.

Be the first to taste the modern Negroni Bianco Recipe!

35ml Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

35ml London Dry Gin

35ml DRY VERMOUTH

Rock glass

Garnish with three olives 

It is time now to take the bottle from the fridge and craft these unique cocktails for something exquisite…

Salute!

Italspirits team.

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