Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth

Here’s the deal: on its own its flavor of lightly sweet mild grape, citrus and mellow herbs is unremarkable. Gentle bitterness. However, as a mixer? Makes a damn solid Martini and “perfect” Manhattan. This is a mixer and I believe is made for such use (as opposed to a stand alone aperitif or spritzer). It won’t “wow” you with its complexity, but it really supports other spirits in a cocktail…specifically, it really shines in a classic, old school Martini (I actually favor a wet Martini with as much as a 2:1 ratio) . Don’t be afraid to pair it with top shelf spirits especially gins with a citrus forward profile.

An easily available dry vermouth, Martini & Rossi dry is not going to blow you away, but it gets the job for the very low price it goes for. Would I prefer Noilly Prat for about the same price, probably, but for the value it's well worth stocking. The nose features olive, honey and a bit of lemon zest. The palate has a touch of sweetness, apples and is a bit acidic. The finish is quick, with no burn and some white peach notes. Again, drinking this neat is not going to blow you away, but it works great in cocktails and it's hard to complain about the price.

Fruity aroma, grapes and apples, but it doesn’t taste very good, like sour grapes and it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. It doesn’t really add anything to your martinis either. Pick up a bottle of Noilly Prat or Dolin’s instead

Four stars for being such a classic mixer. Not much to write home about, but this is essential in your standard American bartender’s arsenal.

Bright fruit aromas. Tangerine. Flavors get more wine-like. Overripe grape and a slightly bitter finish that doesn’t last

Light lemon, grape, and green grass aroma. Light fruity taste with a touch of bitterness. Not a lot to it.