The Proper Way To Drink Vermouth, Catalan Style

Vermouth or Vermut was once an old-fashioned beverage that collected dust in our grandparents liquor cabinet. But thanks to a new generation of drinkers, Vermouth is having a renaissance as the go-to happy hour libation.

What exactly is Vermouth, you might ask. Vermouth its a fortified wine steeped in herbs and botanicals. These can very from maker to maker. It is considered to be an Aperitif, which means that you drink it before a meal to excite your appetite. Red Vermouth or Vermut Rojo is usually on the sweet side while White Vermouth or Vermut Blanco is generally on the drier side. Its history can be traced to Reus, a town in Catalonia where Italians introduced Vermouth in the 19th Century.

If you were in Barcelona, you might hear the phrase “fer un vermouth” which literally means “do a vermouth” but also entails gathering somewhere outside with friends and tapas. There are many ways to drink it but in Spain you will probably see it served in a glass with ice, a spritz of sparkling water and maybe an olive or citrus peel.

The only real way that you can incorrectly drink Vermouth is if you’re not drinking it at all. But the best way is on ice, in the sunshine, with friends and with salty snacks.