Previously overlooked and ignored, vermouth is now enjoying a glorious revival. Celebrate the ingredient with these five gin and vermouth cocktails.
Thanks in part to adjacent trends for Italian-style spritzes and low-alcohol serves, vermouth is enjoying a much-deserved return to the cocktail spotlight—and even Martini drinkers who sneer at anything more than a vermouth wash should give the ingredient a second chance.
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 classic Italian and French numbers to contemporary, “craft” versions.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a lighter-weight aperitif or want to add an extra layer of depth to your serves, reach for your bottle of vermouth. Here are five gin and vermouth cocktails to get you started, before exploring more gin cocktail recipes that make great use of the ingredient.
50-50 MARTINI
Low alcohol serves are becoming more and more popular, but that doesn’t mean you need to cut out the gin. Instead, dig back into the archives for vermouth-driven classics like the 50-50 Martini. With equal parts gin and vermouth, the Martini is transformed from a bold and bracing cocktail into a bright and refreshing aperitif.
50/50 Martini Recipe:
- 1 part Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 1 part 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 a classic gin and vermouth cocktail, and a great excuse to pick up a bottle of sweet vermouth.
The Negroni is the gin and vermouth cocktail that needs no introduction. The serve has been the talk of the town for years now, and its irresistible bitter-sweet-citrus-botanical flavor profile wouldn’t be nearly as complex without the dose of sweet vermouth. Once you have mastered how to make the perfect Negroni, there are plenty of versions of the serve (add a part of Sloe Gin for a sweet berry undernote), but it’s wise to begin with the classic.
Classic Negroni recipe:
- 1 part Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 1 part Campari
- 1 part 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
Italian aperitif drinks are some of our favourite vermouth-based serves, and the Negroni Sbagliato is no exception. Its name translates to “Mistaken Negroni” because this drink was said to have been invented when a bartender accidentally left out the gin in favor of prosecco. No need to do that in our version of the Sbagliato, we include both!
Sbagliato recipe:
- 1 part Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 1 part Campari
- 1 part sweet vermouth
- Sparkling wine, to top
- 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
The Clover Club is a classic cocktail whose origins date back centuries—which just goes to show how long bartenders have turned to vermouth to add botanical complexity to their serves. This sweet and refreshing cocktail is a good fit for all occasions.
Clover Club recipe:
- 3 parts Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 2/3 part freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/3 part grenadine or raspberry syrup
- 2/3 part sweet vermouth
- Handful of fresh raspberries
- 1 egg white or vegan alternative
- Raspberry, to garnish
Add all the ingredients (barring the garnish) to an empty cocktail shaker. Seal, and dry-shake (without ice) 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.
One of our preferred contemporary gin and vermouth cocktails is our St. Clement’s Fizz. Bright and citrusy thanks to a dose of our Lemon Drizzle Gin, this sparkling serve is a refreshing, springtime favourite.
St Clement’s Fizz recipe:
- 1 part Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin
- 1/2 part sweet vermouth
- 2 parts 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.