Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth 1.5L

Martini & Rossi traces its roots to 1863 in Turin, and it was Luigi Rossi's sons who began developing a new, drier style of vermouth in 1890, working from their father's recipes as a starting point. The formula took a full decade to perfect, finally debuting on New Year's Day in 1900. That patience paid off, as Extra Dry went on to become a foundational ingredient in the classic Dry Martini and remains produced at the historic Pessione facility south of Turin under current owner Bacardi Limited.

Extra Dry begins with a base of roughly 75 percent wine, drawing on Trebbiano grapes from Emilia-Romagna and Catarratto from Sicily, fortified and infused with a proprietary blend of more than thirty botanicals. Florentine orris root plays a defining role, an ingredient that spends three years in the ground before being sun-dried to mature its aromatic oils, lending the finished vermouth its distinctive violet-tinged character alongside citrus and light spice. Sugar content stays minimal, keeping the style true to its name.

The result pours pale straw, almost colorless, with a delicate nose of raspberry, lemon peel, and fresh herbs. The palate turns crisp and dry, with orris and subtle wood notes leading to a clean, lightly bitter, citrus-tinged finish.