Spirits 10 of Our Favorite Sweet Vermouth Cocktails By Nikki Miller-Ka Nikki Miller-Ka Instagram Twitter Website Nikki Miller-Ka has written about the intersection of food and culture for Food & Wine since 2021. She has been writing for 15 years as a food blogger, recipe developer, and regular contributor to numerous publications. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg DuPree Vermouth—an aromatized, fortified wine with Italian origins—is often thought of as a supporting character in many gin or vodka-based cocktails, like the Northern Standard. But, as these sweet vermouth recipes prove, the liqueur works beautifully in plenty of different drinks. It's considered more than a secondary element in classic drinks like the Manhattan; it's phenomenal when blended with bourbon, mezcal, and more. Read on for 10 sweet vermouth cocktails we love, and everything you need to make them at home. 01 of 10 Guava Ponche with Sweet Vermouth DYLAN + JENI Ponche Navideño is a Christmastime spiced tropical fruit punch that's served warm with a shot of tequila in Mexico. Food & Wine Cooks contributor Paola Briseño González's chilled riff on this holiday classic pays homage to her love of vermouth. Light and fragrant with perfectly balanced bitterness, it's refreshing and bright thanks to hibiscus, guava, apples, and mint. Get the Recipe 02 of 10 Carpano and Soda © Fredrika Stjärne Carpano Antica is a spicy, nutty, sweet vermouth with a slightly bitter edge. Mixed with club soda and a dash of bitters, it makes the perfect aperitif. Get the Recipe 03 of 10 Negroni © Tina Rupp Famed Japanese mixologist Hidetsugo Ueno uses the exquisite French Dolin rouge vermouth in his Negronis, but you may want to experiment with different sweet vermouths—Martini & Rossi, Cinzano, Carpano Antica Formula—or try a bittersweet one like Punt e Mes. Get the Recipe 04 of 10 Americano © Lucas Allen This drink was a favorite of Americans in Italy during Prohibition. Prior to then it was known as the Milano-Torino, for the cities where its two main ingredients were first made: Milan (Campari) and Turin (sweet vermouth). Get the Recipe 05 of 10 Manhattan © Wendell T. Webber According to popular legend, this cocktail was created at the Manhattan Club in 1874, at a party given by Winston Churchill's American mother to celebrate Samuel J. Tilden's election as governor of New York. Get the Recipe 06 of 10 San Gennaro © Lucas Allen This take on a Manhattan is Andrew Pollard's tribute to Italian American culture and the annual San Gennaro festival in New York City's Little Italy. He combines rye, a quintessentially American spirit, with three from Italy: citrusy Averna amaro, spicy Campari, and the sweet vermouth Carpano Antica Formula. Get the Recipe 07 of 10 Rob Rye Greg DuPree Across the country, bartenders are adding herbs and citrus to red and white wine, creating bespoke versions of vermouth. At San Francisco's Linden Room, Ron Boyd created a floral white vermouth featuring chamomile, dried artichokes, and coriander, which he stirs into his twist on the classic Rob Roy cocktail. Carpano Antica Formula, though, makes a great substitute. Get the Recipe 08 of 10 Northern Standard Carey Jones This drink is even better a Manhattan, thanks to three different bitter elements. Created by mixologist James Ives, the Northern Standard is a full-flavored cocktail that uses Knob Creek rye aged in charred barrels to balance out the richness of Carpano. It's as equally strong as it is smooth. Get the Recipe 09 of 10 Mezcal Negroni Victor Protasio This riff on the classic gin and Campari cocktail has an earthy richness courtesy of smoky mezcal. Carpano Antica Formula vermouth is full-bodied and flavored with herbs and spices, lending dry, barely sweet flavor to this Negroni. Cocchi Americano and a generous citrus garnish bring a light, citrusy bite. Get the Recipe 10 of 10 Bottled Manhattan Greg DuPree Mixologist Don Lee says,"Making a bottled cocktail is great for dinner party planning, too, because it lets you do the work ahead of time." No more stirring drinks at the last minute or fussing with ice and strainers; when your guests arrive, you can spend time mingling rather than rushing to put things together. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit