Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Vermouth Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to vermouth products
You might be surprised to learn that vermouth is technically not a spirit but a wine. As a fortified wine, it has extra alcohol added to increase its alcohol level (measured as alcohol by volume, or ABV). Depending on the style, it's infused with spices, herbs, and roots. Originating from France and Italy, vermouth was designed to help people manage medical issues such as unsettled stomachs. Its use rose in popularity as an apéritif, and before Prohibition in the United States, it outsold table wine.
About vermouth
To be called vermouth, this wine must have extracts from the Artemisia genus of certain plants. Wormwood, which is also found in absinthe and received incorrect blame for its hallucinogenic effects, was used originally but is no longer. In fact, vermouth got its name from a Bavarian wine called "vermutwein," which was flavored with wormwood. Today, producers can make vermouth with hundreds of types of plants, with some of the more popular ones including sagebrush and mugwort.
The flavor profiles found in vermouth are often complex, so you might not be able to identify all the notes found in every bottle. In fact, the best vermouth brands remain protective about what ingredients they add to make their liquor. However, they usually have common ingredients in addition to the plant extracts. These ingredients include herbs such as ginger, lavender, and marjoram; spices including vanilla, cardamon, and cinnamon; and citrus peels such as orris and angelica.
Types of vermouth
While vermouth comes in several colors, they do not correlate with different flavors. Instead, they reflect the sweetness and style. Its two main styles include dry (white) and sweet (red):
- Dry: Originating in France, dry vermouth is used to make several popular cocktails, including the martini and El Presidente. Also known as white or French vermouth, it is often clear or yellow. The dry designation means it has just 5% sugar. Dry vermouths are low in tannins and often have floral and fruity flavors. You can also use this type of vermouth in place of white wine when cooking.
- Sweet: Sweet vermouth usually comes from Italy and has a sweet, spicy, and herbal flavor highlighted by hints of spice, cocoa, and caramel. This type of vermouth, also known as red or Italian vermouth, is used in Manhattans and Negronis. Its sweeter profile results from having up to 15% sugar.
Expect to have an ABV between 13-24% with either type of vermouth. This is slightly higher than most unfortified wines, which come in between 9-14%, but lower than many spirits that have between 40-50% ABV.
Serving vermouth
Spanish tradition dictates you drink vermouth before lunch, but that doesn't mean it's a lunch-only beverage. While you're probably familiar with using vermouth in a martini or Manhattan, it's more versatile than just those classic drinks. You can enjoy it with tonic or soda water and an orange slice. One of the simplest ways to drink it is to serve it on its own or over ice. Sip sweet red vermouth with an orange slice and olive to offset its sweetness.
While you think about what type of cocktail to make with your vermouth, open up your Instacart app and add a bottle or two to your cart. An Instacart shopper will get started on your order, and you can have your vermouth to your house in as little as 2 hours!
Vermouth Near Me
Buy your favorite Vermouth online with Instacart. Order Vermouth from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about vermouth
While cognac can sit on your shelf for months and uncorked wine needs to be consumed rather quickly, vermouth's life span lands somewhere in the middle. Once you open the bottle, vermouth holds up better than wine but not quite as long as cognac. Because it's a wine and not a spirit, vermouth oxidizes over time. Oxidation doesn't benefit the vermouth, so avoid setting an opened bottle on a shelf and forgetting it.
The best place to keep vermouth is in the refrigerator, and you should consume an open bottle within three months. An unopened bottle can keep for 3-4 years after bottling, and you should store the bottle at room temperature.
When searching for the best foods to pair with vermouth, the possibilities are endless whether you're drinking a dry or sweet version. This beverage goes well with just about any tapas foods, including flatbreads, breadsticks, and nuts. Serve it with antipastos such as olives or artichokes. If you're a cheese lover, you'll be happy to know that dry vermouth pairs well with hard cheeses such as blue cheese, while sweet works with drier ones such as pecorino. You can also enjoy cured meats with vermouth as well as a variety of fresh seafood, including oysters, crabs, and prawns.