Side-By-Side – Comparing 2 Italian Sweet Vermouths

1,500+ words still wasn’t enough to dive all the way into the world of vermouth, but it’s a good start. To help give a better idea of how each category compares and differs, here’s a side-by-side of two excellent Italian sweet vermouths. 

I’ll describe how each acts by itself (with ice) and in an Americano, a vermouth-forward classic cocktail that’s a great sipper.

Carpano Antica

Arguably the OG vermouth, Carpano is likely what’s on the top shelf of your local grocery store. 

By Itself

The nose is very spicy and makes me think of a warm fire in winter. There’s a hint of herb as well, and that comes through more clearly on the palate. It finishes with a lot of citrus. Overall, this is surprisingly dry given the color.

In An Americano

You get a lot of the same taste here, it’s just fighting through the bitter Campari. This actually brings out the herbs and citrus in the vermouth a bit more while muting the spices. The sweetness comes through at the end of the drink, balancing the bitter start well.

Cocchi Sotrica

Potentially the first “official” vermouth (apparently the Savoy court loved it), Cocchi is a bit harder to find but well worth it. It carries a unique geographical classification as true “Vermouth di Torino” based on where the grapes are grown.

By Itself

The nose is a full herb bouquet. The oregano increases in strength on the palate and quickly gives way to orange juice, which lasts through the finish. It’s a delicate flavor that starts quite sweet but finishes very dry.

In An Americano

The delicate flavor of the vermouth gets lost with the bitter Campari. The drink is delicious, but it’s more like drinking a mellowed Campari than drinking a true cocktail. The biggest difference is the drastic increase of orange on the finish.

Who Wins?

It depends on what you want! Both Mary and I agree that the Cocchi is the better standalone apertif while the Carpano makes a better cocktail – it just has more backbone to stand up to amari. 

So, if you want to have a bottle to drink a little before dinner, grab some Cocchi. If you’re just mixing drinks, go for the Carpano. Regardless, you can’t go wrong.