Vermouth Cocktails are the center of our exploration today.
So, what is a cocktail?
According to Binwise, a cocktail is any mixed drink with at least two ingredients and is often alcohol-based.
They should have a base liquor, like vodka or gin, and come with other ingredients like fruit juice, cream, or flavored syrup.
They are sometimes referred to as aperitifs, which may be considered by some to be an appetizer and by others, to stimulate the appetite for the upcoming meal.
There are a wide variety of cocktails with maybe thousands of recipes available online.
However, the International Bartenders Association officially only recognizes 27 according to The Bar Cabinet.
The three categories of cocktails are Unforgettable, Contemporary Classic, and New Era.
The Negroni, Manhattan Drink, and Americano Cocktail, all of which are drinks with vermouth, fall into the ‘Unforgettable’ cocktails category.
#12 is refreshingly new and has quickly become well known amongst vermouth cocktails.
When making cocktails at home, requires some preplanning, not only in having the ingredients necessary on hand, but also ice, glassware, and garnishes.
Cocktails with sweet vermouth may be best served cold, in which case, the drink could benefit oftentimes from being served in a chilled glass.
According to Tasting Table, Vermouth is an aromatized wine with herbs, spices, barks, flowers, seeds, roots, and other botanicals, fortified with distilled alcohol to keep it from spoiling as quickly.”
Note to self, that it does need to be refrigerated.
The following list of 19 vermouth cocktails includes a mix of white or dry vermouth cocktails and cocktails with sweet vermouth.
Some will be familiar and others quite new.
Would not want things to get boring, would we?
Of course, classics will always be just that, classics!
Let’s see what creativity awaits!
Unlike most vermouth cocktails, this one starts with a lovely hibiscus tea which needs to be made several hours ahead, so it can be chilled completely.
This hibiscus tea gives the drink a decidedly herbal taste.
The ingredients for this cocktail include Lemoncello Liqueur, fresh mint leaves, ice, sweet vermouth, maple syrup, and aromatic bitters.
Serve in glasses with ice and garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedge.
Gorgeous!
A different kind of dry vermouth cocktail here.
It is tart and dry and leans to the bitter side of things, showing up at the end of the sip.
The ingredients include rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and Campari in equal amounts.
Stir with ice, and strain into a coupe.
Garnish with lemon peel.
Cocktails with dry vermouth benefit from fantastic flavors and in this recipe, a homemade rhubarb fennel syrup does that beautifully.
The syrup is made of thinly chopped rhubarb, chopped fennel bulb, sugar, water, and orange zest warmed, broken down, strained, and cooled.
The cocktail is made by shaking lemon juice, rhubarb fennel syrup, gin, salt, and dry vermouth together.
Garnish with a fennel frond and rhubarb ribbon.
Not many drinks with vermouth can say they took first place in a tasting, but this one can!
It was described as a complete cocktail with complex flavor, a full body with a finish that does not fade.
It includes amontillado sherry, dry vermouth, blanc vermouth, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters.
Combine over ice, stir, strain, and serve in a chilled coupe.
Garnish with lemon peel.
One of the simple classic cocktails with sweet vermouth, The Manhattan, is an excellent choice for any cocktail party or dinner.
Its origin is believed to be when Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston’s mom, hosted a banquet at The Manhattan Club and this was served.
Of course, it is different now than it was then.
It is made with rye or bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth, and angostura bitters.
Stir over ice, strain, and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with maraschino cherries.
Refreshing and thirst-quenching describe this selection of the vermouth cocktails.
Its name was chosen by the creator who had recently visited The Bronx Zoo.
No bitters are included but both vermouths are.
Shake together with ice, dry gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Strain and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a thin orange slice.
Interesting info in the notes section of the post.
Some vermouth cocktails have been around a good while with this one being first published in 1915, though there are several origin stories.
It has a caramel toasty flavor of rum with the brightness of triple sec and fruitiness and vanilla from the white vermouth.
It is made with golden or dark rum, vermouth blanc, triple sec, and grenadine syrup.
Stir and strain into a chilled coupe.
Squeeze orange on top to cover the surface, garnishing with a maraschino cherry.
Next up, is another classic of dry vermouth cocktails, the Martini!
So many choices with this one between shaken or stirred, olives or lemon twist, dry or dirty.
A lot of personal preference goes into these.
This classic martini is made with dry vermouth and gin or vodka stirred together with ice.
Serve in a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with skewered olives on a cocktail pick.
This magical combination of cocktails with dry vermouth has a velvety texture and a fruity flavor.
The vermouth balances the sweetness of the raspberry in the clover club.
The process to make this includes a dry shake without ice and then another shake with the ice.
The ingredients include gin, dry vermouth, raspberry syrup (which you could make at home), lemon juice, and egg white.
Double strain and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with skewered raspberries.
Another long-standing drink with vermouth is the Americano!
High-quality ingredients may make or break this drink.
It consists of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water.
Fill a highball glass with ice, add the Campari and vermouth, and top with the soda water.
Stirring gently is all that is required.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Simple as that!
If specific fruit flavors in cocktails with sweet vermouth tickle your fancy, this one might be one to add to your list.
It is named not after a monarchy, but after the Queens borough in New York.
Balanced flavors with pineapple juice that does not overtake the drink.
It is made by adding into a shaker equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, dry gin, pineapple juice, and ice.
Shake, strain, and serve in a wide-mouthed glass.
Garnish with a piece of pineapple.
12. White Negroni
A newcomer to the scene of 2001, the White Negroni is quickly becoming well known among white vermouth cocktails.
This stunning variation is made by mixing ice, London dry style gin, white vermouth, and Suze.
Stir and strain into an old-fashioned glass with a fresh ice cube.
The Adonis is one of the vermouth cocktails with low alcohol.
This recipe may be for those of you who love the taste of cocktails but do not care for the heavy alcohol.
It is sweet, smooth, and a little spicy, placing it perfect to enjoy before a meal.
It is made by combining Lustau Amontillado sherry, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters in a glass with ice.
Stir, strain, and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
Gorgeous all by itself.
Have you recently been on a Downton Abbey binge?
Throwing a 1920’s themed event?
This cocktail fits that time period and falls squarely among dry vermouth cocktails, having been around since the early 1900s.
It is made with Canadian whiskey, dry vermouth, angostura bitters, and ice shook well.
Pour into a chilled coupe glass and top up the glass with chilled sparkling white wine.
15. Cucumber Martini
Aromatic cocktails with dry vermouth like this one have a crisp, clean flavor.
This one is considerably lighter than the classic Martini and was inspired by a drink description in the book, “Smothered.”
There is a mocktail version as well.
The ginger agave simple syrup is made ahead of time so it can be chilled.
Peel, seed and cut the cucumber into chunks.
Into the shaker, add cucumber chunks, basil leaves, gin, vermouth, fresh lime juice, ginger agave simple syrup, and ice.
Shake, strain, and serve in chilled martini glasses.
Garnish with cucumber slices and a whole basil leaf.
16. Vermouth Cassis
This recipe is from the category of drinks with vermouth that is light, sweet, and refreshing.
The interesting ingredient here is Creme de Cassis, a black currant liqueur.
To make this cocktail shake together dry vermouth, Creme de Cassis, and ice cubes.
Pour into short wide-mouth glasses, top with club soda and ice.
Garnish with fresh mint and skewered blueberries.
17. Negroni
When classic cocktails with sweet vermouth enter the conversation, the Negroni is bound to be mentioned.
This bold, crisp, vibrant cocktail is a go-to for many occasions.
To make this recipe, combine Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth with ice and stir.
Run an orange peel around the rim of the glass and strain the mixture over new ice.
Garnish with an orange peel twist.
18. The Saint
So it seems many cocktails have connections with or were developed in New York.
This one hails from Brooklyn, New York’s Cafe Moto, and has a complex and changing profile among white vermouth cocktails.
The ginger syrup is made the day before on the stovetop with sugar, ginger, and water.
The cocktail is made by adding dry white wine, ginger syrup, blanc vermouth, and ice into a shaker.
Shake and strain into a stemless wine glass.
Top with club soda and orange bitters.
Garnish with basil and mint leaves and lemon peel.
Stunning!
The last entry on this list of 19 vermouth cocktails is this Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail.
Tart and complex, orange and sweet.
Sweet-tart might be the best description.
It is made by combining bourbon, sweet vermouth, orange juice, unsweetened cranberry juice, and simple syrup with ice in a shaker.
Shake and strain into a lowball glass with ice.
Garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
The bottom line
When needing something cool and refreshing or classic and comforting, vermouth cocktails offer a little something to satisfy everyone.
The Best 19 Vermouth Cocktails
Our list of the best 19 Vermouth Cocktails includes a variety of dry vermouth and sweet vermouth cocktails.
Ingredients
- Sweet Vermouth Hibiscus Tea Cocktail
- Old Pal Cocktail
- Rhubarb, Fennel & Vermouth Cocktail
- Chip Tyndale's Bamboo Cocktail
- Manhattan Drink
- The Bronx Cocktail
- El Presidente Cocktail
- Classic Martini
- Clover Club - Raspberry Gin Cocktail
- Americano Cocktail
- Queen's Cocktail: Gin
- White Negroni
- The Adonis Cocktail
- Downton Abbey's The Boothby Cocktail
- Cucumber Martini
- Vermouth Cassis
- Negroni
- The Saint Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
- Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Instructions
- Take a look at our Vermouth Cocktails list!
- Bring the ingredients to create a new favorite drink.
- Woohoo! You created a top-notch cocktail!
- Comment your thoughts on our Facebook page!