Vermouth is a fortified wine, flavored with herbal tincture, which necessarily includes wormwood. During the Soviet period, such drinks were not respected, as their quality left much to be desired. Today on the market are vermouths, produced in Italy, France and a number of other countries, the quality of which does not cause complaints. Today, the use of vermouth is associated with bohemian life, and many are not averse to pampering themselves with this unusual alcohol. However, not everyone knows how to drink vermouth, as a result, the use of this fashionable drink can bring disappointment and bewilderment. To prevent this from happening, you need to know a few subtleties.
Vermouth Varieties
Vermouth are wines, often a little similar to each other. Rules of drinking depends on its type.
The widest classification divides vermouths into Italian and French. This is not about the country of origin, but about the style of the drink. Italian are called red sweet vermouths, French - white dry.
Manufacturers often divide vermouths into 5 categories:
- dry vermouths (Dry, Secco) - the sugar content in them does not exceed 4%;
- white vermouth (Bianco) - contains 10-15% percent of sugar, produced on the basis of white grape wines;
- red vermouth (Rosso) - sweet (contain more than 15% sugar), made from red grape wine;
- Rose (Rose) - made from a mixture of white and red grape wines, the concentration of sugar in them is 10-15%;
- bitter, or “bitters” (Bitter), - strong drinks (30-75%) with a bitter aftertaste, can be produced without wine, from a single spirit tincture of herbs, or with a slight inclusion of wine.
Red, pink and white vermouths are considered dessert.
Terms of use for vermouth
There are general rules for using vermouth and rules prescribing how to drink particular varieties of it.
- All types of vermouth are served in glasses on a high thin leg, having a cone-shaped shape. In the absence of suitable dishes, it can be replaced with glasses of whiskey or brandy.
- Vermouths improve appetite and digestion. They are served before or after meals, but not at lunch. The exceptions are strong varieties that can be served on the table, although they are also considered aperitifs or digestives. Vermouth can be served without reference to food intake in general. It is not by chance that it is called a drink for the whole day. That is why he was so fond of clubbers.
- Dry vermouth can be drunk only in pure form or as a part of cocktails. Dilute it with water, tonic, juice is not accepted. In extreme cases, you can add ice. Other types of vermouth can be drunk both in pure and diluted form. Non-alcoholic drinks are most often diluted in a 1: 1 ratio, alcoholic beverages - in a 2: 1 ratio. For dilution most often used juices, tonic, soda or just pure water.
- Vermouth should be drunk slowly, in small sips. The exception may be some types of bitters.
- Vermouth is served cooled to 8-12 degrees. Red vermouth can not cool.
Vermouth is not necessarily a snack, but snacks on the table will not be superfluous. Their choice will depend on the grade of vermouth.
How to bite vermouth
The choice of snacks for vermouth often depends on its variety.
- Olives and olives are well suited to dry vermouth. Any kind of cheese will be appropriate, except for the overly savory, but the taste of the drink will be best emphasized with hard cheeses. If you want to snack drink something more substantial, stop the choice on fish and salads based on seafood, cheese, vegetables, but without mayonnaise.
- To the bitter vermouth it would be reasonable to offer fried or baked meat, cold snacks based on it. From the lighter appetizers, it is possible to serve the same products as the dry vermouth: light salads, fish, seafood, hard cheeses, olives, olives.
- Olives, cheeses, shrimps, salty cracker, grapes, citrus fruits are perfect for white vermouth.
- Light poultry dishes, cold cuts and cheese, fruit and nuts are most often served to the pink vermouth.
- Cold meat, hard and soft cheeses, ham, crackers with salt, grapes harmonize well with red vermouth.
- Any dessert vermouths (“Bianco”, “Rosso”, “Roza”) are well combined with chocolate cream, cream mousse, melted and cream cheese, cheesecake. To them without fear you can offer fruit slicing, berries, ice cream. Sweet cakes and pastries will not be the best choice, as in this case there will be too much sugar.
Cheese, olives, grapes and crackers are suitable for almost all varieties of vermouth, offering them to guests will be a win-win option.
Vermouth-based cocktails are usually drunk without a snack.
Vermouth is considered one of the best ingredients for making alcoholic cocktails. Experienced bartenders know up to 500 recipes for such drinks.
Gangster Girlfriend Cocktail
Composition:
- dry vermouth - 45 ml;
- orange juice - 120 ml;
- orange liqueur - 10 ml;
- gin - 25 ml;
- ice cubes - 7-8 pcs.
Method of preparation:
- Put ice cubes in a cocktail or wine glass.
- Pour in first vermouth, then liquor, then gin. Slightly mix with a bar spoon.
- Add chilled lemon juice, mix the drink again.
Ladies' Cocktail, has a nice color, it turns out pretty light. Will appeal to those who do not like the sugary-sweet taste.
Cocktail “Ideal”
Composition:
- Vermouth “Bianco” - 80 ml;
- lime juice - 20 ml;
- tonic - 50 ml;
- whiskey - 20 ml;
- sugar syrup - 10 ml;
- ice cubes - to taste.
Method of preparation:
- Place all beverages in the shaker tank.
- Shake for a minute.
- Pour into a tall glass filled with ice cubes.
For decoration, you can use a round lime wedge. The drink is favored by the fairer sex, as it is easy to drink, although in fact it turns out not so easy.
Cocktail Americano
Composition:
- red vermouth (“Rosso”) - 30 ml;
- liqueur “Campari” - 30 ml;
- soda - to taste;
- crushed ice - 100 g.
Method of preparation:
- Fill the highball with crushed ice.
- Pour in alcoholic drinks, mix.
- Top up the soda.
Cocktail made according to this recipe is best served with a straw. Use orange slice for decoration.
Negroni Cocktail
Composition:
- vermouth “Rosso” - 30 ml;
- gin - 40 ml;
- Campari liqueur - 25 ml;
- crushed ice - to taste;
- cocktail cherry - for decoration;
- orange peel (spiral) - for decoration.
Method of preparation:
- Beverages are drained into the shaker tank.
- Add ice.
- Shake the shaker intensively for at least 40 seconds.
- Strain the drink.
- Pour into a cocktail glass.
- Decorate with a cherry and a spiral of orange peel.
This cocktail is among the most popular. Every self-respecting bartender knows his recipe. Ease of preparation allows you to make a cocktail at home and treat them to friends.
Cocktail “Condensed Milk”
Composition:
- Vermouth “Bianco” - 50 ml;
- sweetened condensed milk - 20 ml;
- ice cream - 100 g;
- dark chocolate - 10 g.
Method of preparation:
- Let the ice cream melt without heating it.
- Put the ice cream in the bowl of the blender, add the condensed milk to it.
- Pour in vermouth.
- Beat the ingredients until smooth.
- Pour into a cocktail glass.
- Chop grated chocolate, having cooled it well beforehand.
- Decorate the drink with chocolate chips.
A gentle sweet drink will appeal to ice cream lovers. It is very refreshing on a hot day.
Cocktail Catch Me
Composition:
- pink vermouth - 70 ml;
- cherry syrup - 40 ml;
- liqueur “Campari” - 30 ml;
- lime juice - 30 ml;
- tonic - 60 ml;
- ice cubes - to taste;
- A slice of lime or lemon - for decoration.
Method of preparation:
- Mix all liquid ingredients in a shaker glass.
- Pour into a highball filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Served a cocktail with a straw. It is recommended to drink it slowly.
Trio Cocktail
Composition:
- dry vermouth - 50 ml;
- red dessert vermouth - 50 ml;
- gin - 50 ml;
- ice cubes - to taste.
Method of preparation:
- Mix drinks in a shaker or in any other way.
- Pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice cubes.
Three alcoholic drinks in the composition of the cocktail create a harmonious trio. The cocktail prepared from them has an attractive shade. Cocktail cherries are suitable as decorations.
Cocktail Arena
Composition:
- Vermouth “Bianco” - 60 ml;
- tonic - 70 ml;
- melon (pulp) - 100 g;
- orange liqueur - 10 ml.
Method of preparation:
- Cut the melon into small pieces, put in the freezer for half an hour.
- Put the frozen melon in the blender bowl, add the drinks.
- Crush the melon while mixing it with the rest of the ingredients.
- Pour the cocktail into a chilled glass.
The cocktail has a refreshing taste and a seductive melon flavor.
If vermouth is right to drink, it can hardly disappoint. Do not like strong drinks - dilute vermouth or use it to make cocktails. Their recipes are so many that it is difficult not to find a suitable option.
