Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth

Rating: 19/23 Nose: This has a peculiar quality. I detect some sweet red fruit alongside significant herbal bitterness and a lot of... mascarpone? What is this substance? It's peculiar and profound. A touch of orange zest is present. The bitter herbs lend an almost faint smokiness. I'm unable to precisely define the herbal notes, unfortunately, but there's considerable complexity. Palate: Wow, this is peculiar! It's both sweet and tart with red fruit, but also this prominent, cheesy peculiarity. I'm actually getting notes of blueberry and marionberry too. Some bitter orange is there. It's somewhat vegetal and quite herbal with some enjoyable bitter notes, including a hint of mint and faint anise. The bitter peculiarity skillfully counterbalances the sweetness. Ah, I do taste that mascarpone! That's a striking flavor. Some cola is definitely present, but without any metallic undertones. There's an immense amount going on here - far more than in any other rosso vermouth I've sampled. This is surprisingly drinkable. It's also, by a considerable margin, the richest rosso vermouth I've encountered. And the most intricate and full-bodied. It resides in the category of "is vermouth intended to taste like this?", making it quite challenging, yet it's captivating and ultimately rewarding. Finish: Bitter and still peculiar with less of the fruit's sweetness, but some fruit remains. More prominent on the herbal side. A foundational layer of mascarpone persists well into the finish. - Conclusion - This is exceptionally peculiar. It's challenging, but it's a welcome sort of challenge. I genuinely appreciate it. I'm uncertain if it will consistently perform well as a mixer, but I'm eager to give it a try. And just sip it straight if it doesn't suit a particular cocktail. I've had considerable difficulty assigning a rating to this - though it has been far from an unpleasant experience. I am on my second bottle of this. I wish there were a soda as delightful as this. My consistent assessment has been that this is at least a 19. I might be persuaded that it's an 18. It's definitely not a 23, but the fact that I had to pause and consider that is telling. It's an excellent mixer too, though the flavor requires careful pairing with the cocktail and the individual's preferences. That said, I haven't found it excessively difficult to identify cocktails that complement this well. I believe I'll place this in the 19 to 21 range. Comparing this directly with some bourbons on my shelf (as they are the closest items I possess in a similar score range), my impression is that it's not a 21. Could it be a 20, though? That's a distinct possibility. I don't feel confident enough to elevate it there yet. I could continue tasting this, but I think I need to settle on a 19 and move forward. I know I'll be purchasing another bottle at some point, so I'll have another opportunity to evaluate it. This evaluation is based primarily on sipping this straight. It's astonishing that I can award a vermouth such a high rating when consumed neat. If I discover a truly exceptional cocktail to utilize this in, I will factor that into my assessment as well.

Appearance: Brown with deep red and old gold highlights, resembling a bourbon or sherried whisky. Aroma: Baking spices, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, liquorice, with a hint of raisin and citrus peel. Flavor and Texture: Elegantly sweet, warming, and spicy, reminiscent of mulled wine and somewhat like semi-sweet sherry. A touch of vanilla, grape, and plum, with a very slight bitterness in the finish that becomes more noticeable with subsequent sips. A remarkable vermouth that was a pleasant surprise, showing me how exceptional vermouth can be. The profile combines excellent medium sherry, sarsparilla, and mulled claret. It's deep and rich yet also light, maintaining a crisp quality on the palate throughout. It's almost too good to use solely for mixing. I greatly enjoy it neat (chilled) and it also makes a fine spritz, especially with a semi-sweet sparkling wine. Previously, I only used less expensive vermouths and didn't understand the appeal, but tasting this changed my mind; I was hooked. If you are serious about cocktails calling for sweet vermouth, use this – it's essential. It will transform your recipes. I'm not claiming it's the absolute "best" vermouth, but it confidently stands with the finest top-shelf options. Like all vermouths, it should be consumed relatively soon after opening due to significant oxidation – similar to the timeframe for vintage port after opening, but definitely store this in the refrigerator. If you don't anticipate finishing the bottle quickly, consider decanting some for friends. “Outstanding”: 90/100 (5 stars)

I just finished a small bottle of this wonderful vermouth, and everything positive people say about it is true. The flavors are incredible, and it tastes delicious either on its own or in a mixed drink. The only downside to this expensive wine is that mine went bad after only two weeks and tasted like burnt pencil erasers. I kept it in the fridge from the moment I bought it, and I made some of the best Manhattans and a Martinez. However, when I made a Negroni, the flavors didn't mesh well, so I will try the recipe again with different gins and perhaps Aperol instead of Campari. This is almost the perfect sweet vermouth, with upfront sweetness balanced by bitter herbs. The aroma is rich with dried fruit like raisins or even dates, it's that sweet. The body is full and delicious. I had it straight and on ice, and both were enjoyable, even though I'm not a big wine drinker. My only criticism is that mine had such a short shelf life, and I do believe it is worth the cost. I used the spoiled liquid for cooking, and it added a fantastic flavor to the meat. This is an excellent product that I will buy again. Enjoy.

For a liter bottle of this vermouth, it won't be inexpensive (I've only seen it in 375ml or 1L bottles). However, in my view, it is the best sweet vermouth available. It performs exceptionally well in cocktails and stands up perfectly on its own, neat or over ice. Honestly, it makes most sweet vermouths seem weak. On the nose, I detect strong herbal notes, along with citrus peel, vanilla, and oak. The moment you take a sip, you notice the richness. It almost tastes like an amaro, with a hint of bitterness and dark cherries. The finish is slightly sweet and lasts longer than most vermouths. Carpano Antica Formula vermouth is the benchmark for sweet vermouths. I have other sweet vermouths I want to try, and I'm sure one will rival this, but it's hard to go wrong with this bottle. It will elevate all your cocktails that call for sweet vermouth (it makes the best Negronis and Manhattans) and it's actually a very tasty drink on its own, especially on the rocks with an orange twist. The price is certainly a hurdle, but I believe it's well worth it in this case.

A rather deep mahogany brown color. Smells like caramel and vin santo. Not as intensely sweet as I anticipated based on common descriptions. It offers a pleasant, moderate sweetness that highlights cherry and vanilla, but I believe it seems sweeter than it is due to a lack of balancing acidity or bitterness. The bittering agents remain subtle, and the herbal notes are present but not pronounced. Gentle hints of nut and cola are detectable. It's extremely well-crafted and of high quality, but... perhaps not entirely captivating? Nevertheless, it's good to great and makes an outstanding "sweet" Manhattan that practically begs for those incredible candied Italian cherries - choose your favorite, Maraschino or Amarena. When compared side-by-side with Cocchi, I wouldn't find a reason to choose this one, given its significantly higher price and surprisingly lesser complexity.

Rich, substantial, with a lingering sweetness of vanilla and fruit. My preferred cocktail is a Manhattan. A friend advised me to try this as my sweet vermouth. I purchased it, tried it, and loved it. It introduces more subtle notes to the cocktail compared to my previous sweet vermouth. Next, I experimented with it in a Negroni. Campari, a notably bitter spirit, frequently overwhelms most drinks. This vermouth holds its own. You perceive some fruitiness and vanilla in the Negroni, which helps to balance Campari's bitterness. Naturally, you incur a premium price for this. $15 for 375 ml compared to $8 for 750 ml of my other vermouth. I'd say it's a worthwhile expense!