What mixes well with vermouth? Gin, that’s what! The delicious double-act goes into making a perfect Martini, but there are also plenty of other gin and vermouth cocktails to try making today.
Whether you’re venturing into the world of vermouth, or simply have a bottle to use up after a party, here are five delicious serves to get you started.
Thanks to our love of Italian-style spritzes and lower-ABV cocktails, vermouth is very much in the spotlight and we believe there’s a classic or contemporary serve out there for everyone. Here we introduce a few so you can discover your new favourite gin and vermouth cocktail.
For the uninitiated: vermouth is a fortified wine, mixed with higher-proof alcohol and lots of herbs and spices. These days, the category includes more delicious, characterful and complex options than ever—from old-school Italian and French numbers to quirky ‘craft’ versions.
50-50 MARTINI
If you want your cocktail to have a little less kick, it’s time to learn how to order the perfect Martini. Specifically, a vermouth-driven classic such as the 50-50 Martini. This is an equal parts gin and vermouth cocktail, meaning it transforms the traditionally bold and bracing Martini into a bright and refreshing aperitif.
- 60ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 60ml dry vermouth (such as Noilly Prat or Dolin)
- Lemon twist, to garnish
Add the gin and vermouth to an ice-filled cocktail glass and stir briskly for about 50 turns. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
NEGRONI
The Negroni is the gin and vermouth cocktail that’s been the talk of the town for years now. And we know its irresistible bitter-sweet-citrus-botanical flavour profile wouldn’t be nearly as complex without a dose of sweet vermouth.
To explore this Italian powerhouse, check out our guide to how to make the perfect Negroni once you have mastered this classic recipe below.
- 25ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth (such as Carpano Antica Formula or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino)
- Orange twist, to garnish
Fill a mixing glass with ice and add all three ingredients. Stir briskly for 20-25 turns. Double strain into an ice-filled rocks glass, and garnish with an orange twist.
SBAGLIATO
Like the classic Negroni, the Sbagliato is another Italian aperitif that’s on our list of easy serves that every aspiring bartender should master. The name of this gin and vermouth cocktail translates to ‘mistaken Negroni’ because it’s thought to have been invented when a bartender swapped out the gin in favour of Prosecco.
There’s no need to do that in our version: we simply include both.
- 10ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 10ml Campari
- 10ml sweet vermouth
- Sparkling wine
- Orange twist, to garnish
Combine the first three ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir well. Strain into a chilled flute and top up with sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange twist.
CLOVER CLUB
Proof again the gin mixes incredibly well with vermouth, the Clover Club is a classic cocktail whose origins date back centuries. And that just goes to show how long bartenders have turned to vermouth to add botanical complexity to their serves.
We hope you’ll agree that this sweet and refreshing gin and vermouth cocktail is a good fit for all occasions.
- 50ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 10ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5ml grenadine or raspberry syrup
- 10ml sweet vermouth
- Handful of fresh raspberries
- 1 egg white
- Raspberry, to garnish
Add all the ingredients (except the garnish) to an empty cocktail shaker. Seal and dry-shake to emulsify. Open the shaker, add ice and shake again. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a raspberry.
ST CLEMENT’S FIZZ
Our fresh and fun St. Clement’s Fizz showcases vermouth in a contemporary context. Bright and citrusy, thanks to a dose of our Lemon Drizzle Gin, this sparkling serve is a springtime favourite.
- 20ml Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin
- 10ml sweet vermouth
- 50ml orange juice
- Sparkling wine
- Orange twist, to garnish
Combine the first three ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well. Double strain into a chilled flute and top up with sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange twist.
Don’t forget to take a photo of your gin and vermouth cocktail creations and tag us @sipsmith so we can see your home bartending talents on social media.