Vermouth back in fashion

Vermouth is back in fashion in London’s top high-end bars, according to the latest CGA and DrinkUp. London's 2018 Influencers Report.

Vermouth has been identified by 21% of the most influential bars in London as one of the most fashionable drinks, marking it out as a big trend for 2019.

Vermouth is an aromatized, fortified white wine flavoured with various botanicals. It is an essential ingredient in a martini accompanying gin as well as Negronis, another gin based cocktail. Vermouth can be drunk neat, but is often served on the rocks with a twist of orange peel.

There are different types of vermouth made around the world. Historically, there have been two main styles - sweet and dry. Responding to demand and competition, Vermouth producers have created new styles, including extra-dry white, sweet white (blanc or bianco), red, amber (ambre or rosso) and rosé.

Vermouth is produced by starting with a base of a neutral grape wine or un-fermented wine must. Each manufacturer adds additional alcohol and a proprietary mixture of dry ingredients, consisting of aromatic herbs, roots and barks, to the base wine, base wine plus spirit or spirit only – which may be re-distilled before adding to the wine or un-fermented wine must. After the wine is aromatized and fortified, the Vermouth is sweetened with either cane sugar or caramelized sugar, depending on the style.