Martini & Rossi Rosso Vermouth 1.5L

Martini & Rossi was founded in 1863 in Turin by Alessandro Martini, Teofilo Sola, and master herbalist Luigi Rossi, who developed the botanical formula that still anchors the Rosso recipe today. Production has remained centered at Pessione, a small town just south of Turin, since the company's earliest days. The full recipe is famously guarded, reportedly known in its entirety by only four people at any given time, a tradition that has held for more than a century and a half under current owner Bacardi Limited.

Rosso begins with a base of Trebbiano wine from Emilia-Romagna and Catarratto wine from Sicily, chosen for their light, neutral character despite the vermouth's deep red color, which comes instead from added caramel. This base is fortified and infused with a proprietary blend of more than forty botanicals, anchored by artemisia harvested just south of the Pessione facility, along with wormwood, chamomile, and nutmeg among other regional herbs. Sugar content runs higher than many Italian sweet vermouths, landing around 140 to 150 grams per liter.

The result is a deep red-brown vermouth with aromas of candied orange, chamomile, and tobacco leaf. On the palate, cola-like fruitiness meets warm baking spice, cinnamon, and anise, finishing bittersweet with a lingering herbal complexity.