Sweet Italian Vermouth | 750ml | 16.5% ABV | Carpano, Turin, Italy
Carpano Antica Formula is the vermouth that defines the category. Antonio Benedetto Carpano first blended this style in his Turin shop in 1786, and the modern bottling — released in the 1990s as a tribute to the original recipe — is built on Moscato wine, herbs, spices, and a richer, more aromatic profile than virtually any other sweet vermouth on the shelf.
Tasting Notes
-
Nose: Vanilla, dried fig, saffron, and bitter orange peel
-
Palate: Layered — caramel, raisin, clove, gentian root, dried herbs
-
Finish: Long and bittersweet, with cocoa and a faint smokiness
Use It In
-
Negroni: The benchmark build — equal parts gin, Campari, Antica Formula
-
Manhattan: Rye or bourbon, Antica Formula, Angostura — stirred over ice, cherry garnish
-
Boulevardier: Whiskey-forward Negroni variant; Antica's depth carries the drink
-
Hanky Panky: Gin, Antica Formula, Fernet-Branca — the Savoy classic
Why Antica Formula Is the Reference
Most sweet vermouths fade behind the spirit in a Manhattan or Negroni. Antica Formula doesn't — it pushes back. The vanilla and dried-fruit weight stand up to bourbon, gin, and Campari without needing extra dashes or sugar to make the cocktail balance. It's why bar programs from Death & Co to The Dead Rabbit have used Antica Formula as the house sweet vermouth for stirred drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the alcohol percentage of Carpano Antica Formula?
Carpano Antica Formula is 16.5% ABV (33 proof). Like most sweet vermouths, it's a fortified wine — wine-based, with neutral spirit and herbal infusions added.
What's the best gin to use in a Carpano Antica Formula Negroni?
Antica Formula's richness pairs best with London Dry gins (Tanqueray, Beefeater, Sipsmith) where juniper and citrus carry through the cocktail. More aromatic gins work too, but the vermouth's intensity calls for a gin that can stand up to it.
How is Carpano Antica Formula different from Cocchi Vermouth di Torino?
Both are premium Italian sweet vermouths from Turin, but Antica Formula leans heavier on vanilla, saffron, and dried fig, while Cocchi Vermouth di Torino is brighter and more citrusy. Antica is the bigger, more dominant pour; Cocchi is more elegant. Both are excellent — Antica is the benchmark.
Pair this with a bottle from our bourbon collection or gin collection and you've got a home bar that builds the classics the way they should taste.
