WHAT IS VERMOUTH?

It goes by vermouth, wermut, vermut and vermú, but what exactly is this delicious drink? The word vermouth is derived from the French pronunciation of wermut, the German word for wormwood (also known as absinthe, or artemisia absinthium), the main ingredient of this popular fortified wine back when it was considered a medicinal drink.

Ancient civilisations from China to Greece infused herbs into their wines to help preserve them. In 16th century Germany the main ingredient used for  this was wormwood. This method was later adopted by the Italians and became vermouth. 

Although Italian and French companies produce most of the vermouth consumed throughout the world, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom also produce vermouth. Catalonia offers a wide range of excellent vermouths with more than 70 brands. Reus, in the south of the region, is known as the capital of vermouth, since it introduced the drink in Catalonia and Spain during the 19th Century.

Here are some of the most well known vermouths according to country:

Italy – Martini, Cinzano, Cocchi, Carpano, Mancino, Gancia

France – Dubonnet, Lillet, Noilly-Prat, Quintinye, Routin, Dolin

Spain – Yzaguirre, Miró, De Muller, Lacuesta, Dos Déus, Txurrut