Martini & Rossi Rosso Vermouth

When I think of vermouth, cocktails immediately come to mind. Martini & Rossi Rosso is arguably the most recognized sweet vermouth and offers good value for around $10 or less. The aroma is spicy, featuring pepper, dried citrus peel, and bay leaf – its best characteristic. The taste is quite thin and very sweet, with notes of raisin and anise. The finish is rather short, with a hint of oak and pepper, and no alcohol burn. I'd advise against drinking this neat and suggest sticking to cocktails. It's not bad, but there are superior sweet vermouths for sipping neat or on the rocks. However, the price point is excellent, making it a decent option for mixing Manhattans or Negronis (though even better choices exist for those drinks if you're willing to spend more). Ultimately, it performs well in cocktails and is only average when drunk neat.

Despite being a more affordable vermouth, this is surprisingly decent. It offers a sweetness reminiscent of red grapes alongside herbal notes (oregano, rosemary, thyme) and a subtle wormwood bitterness. It lacks complexity but remains quite pleasant and jam-like. While I still favor Antica, which isn't always accessible, this is widely available. It's good enough to be used with high-quality whiskies and creates a very satisfying Manhattan. Quite delicious.

It's an improvement over the very cheap stuff I had before, but honestly, this smells like wine that has had pencil shavings steeped in it. It works well in rye and bourbon cocktails (where the spice complements them) but actually makes a worse negroni than the cheaper stuff, in my opinion. The Martini dry vermouth is perfectly pleasant, so I'm puzzled as to why this is so unusual.

I'm not typically a Manhattan drinker, but I enjoy a Negroni or a boulevardier. M & R is widely available in liquor stores nationwide. The aroma is sour and tart. The palate has a decent balance of sour and sweet. It's not a premium vermouth with any special qualities, but it's a reliable budget-friendly or mid-range option.

On the nose, notes of balsamic reduction, chamomile, quinine, tobacco, and candied orange. The mouthfeel is rich. On the palate, there's more quinine, candied orange, and balsamic reduction – along with more chamomile and a distinct star anise on the sweet, short-to-medium finish. Rated 3.00/5.00 – Good (served neat)

Another standard classic, and I can't complain. It's certainly not something I'd suggest drinking on its own; this sweet vermouth definitely contributes to why a Manhattan has been my preferred cocktail for years.