For those who have had the pleasure of tasting a delicious glass of vermouth, you’ll know that the flavors are like no other. With a wide variety of herbs and spices added to the mix, it’s truly standalone in terms of taste.

Many people will use it in order to make Martini’s, whilst others prefer to enjoy it as an aperitif. Either way, if you haven’t tried it before, you simply need to add it to your bucket list. But what exactly does vermouth taste like?

If you’ve found yourself asking this question, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many haven’t yet experienced the pleasure of drinking this beverage. But, we’ve compiled a handy guide that will tell you everything you need to know about vermouth, including the complex taste notes.

To find out more, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.

What Is Vermouth?

Before we jump straight in and take a closer look at the titular question, let’s cover what vermouth is composed of. Vermouth is essentially a fortified wine, which may surprise some who have already indulged in the beverage, as it doesn’t taste like any wine you’ve had before.

That’s because lots of herbs and spices are added to the mix in order to give it that classic aromatic feel. There are two different types of vermouth that we need to cover too, white and red vermouth.

White vermouth, which is debatably the most popular originates in France. It’s typically very dry to taste, hence making it the perfect mixer for martinis.

You’ll notice that when you look at the color of dry vermouth, it will be incredibly pale and sometimes cloudy. It only contains 5 percent sugar, which makes it great if you’re trying to cut down on the carbs.

Because it has so many aromatic, botanical flavors, it’s perfectly paired with a good gin to make a classic martini, James Bond style.

As well as white, or dry vermouth, you also have red vermouth, which is made primarily in Italy. It also has an incredibly botanical, spicy taste, but unlike dry vermouth, it’s also very sweet.

This is because the beverage has been fortified over a long period of time. The sugar content in red vermouth is significantly higher, making it the perfect mixer for beverages such as negronis and Manhattans.

What Does Vermouth Taste Like?

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the delicious beverage that is vermouth, we can move on to discuss its taste profile. For those of you who are unsure whether or not you’ll like this beverage, figuring out some of the notes displayed by the drink may be helpful.

If you’re drinking your vermouth straight, one of the first things that you’ll notice is that it has a very floral, slightly spicy flavor. So, if you’re a fan of spiced or botanical gins, you might also be a fan of vermouth.

When you add dry vermouth to a cocktail, such as a martini, alongside vodka or gin, you’ll probably notice that it doesn’t make too much of a difference to the flavor. That’s because adding vermouth to the mix should serve to enhance the flavor of the cocktail, rather than overpower it.

This is of course, for dry or white vermouth, which is found most ubiquitously. Red vermouth, on the other hand, can appear to have a more complex flavor profile.

Although it still tastes spicy and botanical when drunk by itself, it also has a whole host of other flavors too, such as caramel, vanilla, or fruit. This is of course, because it has been fortified and has a higher sugar content as a result.

If you enjoy a Manhattan, or a negroni, then red vermouth can help to enhance your cocktail, and give it a little extra added sweetness.

What Food Pairs Well With Vermouth?

As we mentioned previously, vermouth works well when served as an aperitif. If you’re looking for a few foods to pair the beverage with, there are several that can work well.

If you’ve got a dry vermouth on your hands, then we’d recommend serving it alongside seafood. If you’re planning on serving tapas, then dry vermouth makes the perfect pairing. It goes really well with shrimp, anchovies, and cured meats.

Red vermouth, on the other hand, works well if you’re planning to serve up a delicious cheese board. It goes best with particularly strong cheeses that pack a punch. The sweetness of the vermouth helps to compliment the saltiness of the platter.

How To Store Vermouth

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase a bottle of vermouth. If this is the case, then you’re probably wondering about the best way to store this beverage.

As you have read at the beginning of this article, vermouth is considered to be a fortified wine, therefore, should it be placed in the refrigerator like your other opened bottles?

The simple answer is, yes, absolutely. If you’ve opened your vermouth, you’ll want to make sure that you’re keeping it in the refrigerator in order for it to stay as fresh as possible. But how long does it last in the refrigerator?

If you’ve opened your vermouth, you can expect it to begin fortifying after a month. We’d recommend storing it for approximately 3 months before finally getting rid of it.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, there are two different kinds of vermouth to be enjoyed. Dry vermouth has strong spiced and botanical flavors, and is typically used in martinis. Red vermouth, on the other hand, has notes of vanilla and caramel, and displays a generally sweeter taste.