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Fortified Wines

Dry Vermouth

  • Fortified Wine
  • 16.5% ABV
  • 124 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You want dry, herbal structure in classics like the Martini.

Skip if…

  • ✗You want sweetness or a neutral mixer in cocktails.

At a Glance

36 kcalCalories
16.5%ABV
1.2gSugar
1.8gCarbs
Fortified WineType
124Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Dry Vermouth?

Dry vermouth is a fortified aromatised wine used in Martinis, aperitif cocktails and stirred classics. It brings herbal, wine-like dryness and helps soften spirit-forward drinks without making them sweet.

What does Dry Vermouth taste like?

Dry, herbal, lightly bitter and wine-like, often with citrus peel, floral, mineral or savory notes. Dry vermouth pairs especially well with gin, vodka, bitters, olives, lemon twist and aperitif-style ingredients.

Dry Vermouth profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: MediumDryBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: martinis, negronis, manhattans, sours

  • Appears in 124+ recipes
  • Has 3 common substitutes

Ways to use dry vermouth

Cocktails (124)

Dry vermouth is a fortified aromatised wine used in Martinis, aperitif cocktails and stirred classics. It brings herbal, wine-like dryness and helps soften spirit-forward drinks without making them sweet.

Flavour profile

BotanicalCitrusDryHerbal

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 29.57–59.15 ml; median 59.15 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 119 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml)
120
Sugar (per 100 ml)
4 g
Carbs (per 100 ml)
6 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

  • Gluten-FreeCompatible
  • KetoLimited
  • Low-CarbLimited
  • Low-SugarLimited
  • VeganCompatible
  • VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Commonly observed with

GinSweet VermouthBittersApricot Flavored BrandyOrange BittersOld Mr. Boston Dry GinMaraschino LiqueurDubonnet

Observed co-use in the reviewed recipe corpus — not a universal pairing recommendation.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T02:53:30.320595+00:00

About this drink

Dry vermouth is part of the fortified and aromatized wine tradition, but its cocktail importance comes from Martini-family drinks. It adds aroma, dryness and structure, which is why changing the vermouth can change the entire drink.

Substitutes

How to swap Dry Vermouth

When replacing Dry Vermouth, match dryness, sweetness and herbal or wine-like depth. A different fortified wine can make a stirred drink feel sharper, richer or more bitter.

When to choose it

When to choose Dry Vermouth

Choose Dry Vermouth when a cocktail needs wine-like body, dryness, sweetness or herbal depth. It is often better for stirred and aperitif-style drinks than for tall refreshers.

Skip if

Do not choose Dry Vermouth when...

Do not choose Dry Vermouth when you want a neutral background ingredient. Fortified wines add body, aroma and wine-like structure that can change the whole drink.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Dry Vermouth — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Dry Vermouth?
There are 124 cocktail recipes featuring Dry Vermouth in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Dry Vermouth?
Top-ranked cocktails made with Dry Vermouth include Bronx Cocktail (Dry), Dry Martini, Dry Martini (5-to-1). Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Dry Vermouth?
Dry Vermouth has an ABV of approximately 16.5%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Dry Vermouth with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Dry Vermouth sensory profile to find drinks I like?
If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Dry Vermouth, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.