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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

Vermouth

Vermouth is an aromatized, fortified wine flavoured with botanicals such as herbs, spices, roots and citrus peel, and it must include a plant from the Artemisia family, commonly wormwood.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Vermouth is an aromatized, fortified wine flavoured with botanicals including Artemisia (wormwood). It is typically served as an aperitif or used in classic cocktails.

What it is

Vermouth is made from a wine base — usually white wine or grape must — fortified with distilled alcohol and infused with herbs, spices, roots, flowers and citrus peel. Italian law requires at least 75% wine and the inclusion of Artemisia. Common botanicals include wormwood, gentian, cinnamon, cloves and coriander.

Styles and uses

The best-known styles are dry (pale, lighter, less sweet, often French) and sweet (darker, fuller, more sugary, often Italian). Blanc/bianco and rosé are also common. Vermouth is served chilled on its own, over ice, or as a cocktail ingredient. Its flavour ranges from herbal and bittersweet to spiced and sweet.

Cocktail role

Vermouth is a key modifier in many classic drinks because it adds aroma, sweetness, bitterness and structure. It is especially important in cocktails like the martini, Manhattan and Negroni. In Canada, vermouth is widely used in home and bar cocktail culture, particularly for martinis and Manhattans.

In short

  • Vermouth is an aromatized fortified wine, not a spirit.
  • It must contain Artemisia (wormwood) and at least 75% wine (in Italy).
  • Common styles: dry, sweet, blanc/bianco, rosé.
  • Used in cocktails like martinis, Manhattans and Negronis.
Canadian angle

Vermouth is widely sold in Canada and is a common ingredient in Canadian home and bar cocktail culture, especially for martinis, Manhattans and Negronis.

Quick questions

What is vermouth made from?
Vermouth is made from wine, usually fortified with distilled alcohol and flavoured with botanicals such as herbs, spices, roots, flowers, citrus peel and Artemisia (wormwood).
What does vermouth taste like?
It typically tastes herbal, aromatic and bittersweet, with flavour depending on the style and producer. Dry vermouth is lighter and less sweet, while sweet vermouth is richer, spicier and more sugary.
What is the difference between sweet and dry vermouth?
Dry vermouth is usually pale, lighter-bodied and less sweet, while sweet vermouth is generally darker, fuller and more sugary. They also have different traditional cocktail uses.

Sources

  1. Baladin — https://www.baladin.it/en/blog/the-ingredients-of-vermouth
    Supports: Italian-law ingredient and minimum wine content
  2. Wine Folly — https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-is-vermouth/
    Supports: Base wine content, styles, and general composition
  3. Spirits Beacon — https://spiritsbeacon.com/guides/how-tos/how-is-vermouth-made
    Supports: Artemisia requirement and aromatised wine description
  4. Decanter — https://www.decanter.com/learn/decanters-complete-guide-to-vermouth-455113/
    Supports: Base wine, styles, sweetness ranges
  5. Wine Spectator — https://www.winespectator.com/articles/vermouth-ultimate-guide-and-explainer
    Supports: Definition, botanicals, ABV range, wormwood
  6. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/vermouth
    Supports: Definition, name origin, styles
  7. The Spruce Eats — https://www.thespruceeats.com/all-about-vermouth-760251
    Supports: Dry vs sweet, cocktail uses
  8. Martini — https://www.martini.com/a-guide-to-vermouth/
    Supports: Style descriptions and flavour profile