Italian Dry Vermouth | 375ml | 18% ABV | Carpano, Turin, Italy
Carpano Dry Vermouth is the Martini vermouth from the house that defined Italian vermouth itself. Crisp, herbal, and lightly bitter, it's the dry counterpart to Antica Formula and Classico — built for stirred gin and vodka cocktails where the vermouth should sharpen rather than sweeten.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Lemon zest, alpine herbs, white pepper, and chamomile
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Palate: Crisp and dry — citrus, juniper, gentian, light wormwood bite
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Finish: Clean and slightly saline, with lingering herbal bitterness
Use It In
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Martini (Dry): 2.5 oz gin, 0.5 oz Carpano Dry — stirred, lemon twist or olive
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50/50 Martini: Equal parts gin and Carpano Dry — a vermouth-forward pour
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Gibson: Martini swap — pickled cocktail onion in place of the twist
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Vesper: Gin, vodka, Carpano Dry instead of Lillet — drier, more herbal
Why the 375ml Size for Dry Vermouth
Dry vermouth is the bottle that suffers most from neglect — most home bars use a quarter ounce per Martini, then leave the bottle on a warm shelf for six months. Result: oxidized, flat, vinegary vermouth ruining every cocktail it touches. The 375ml format plus refrigeration keeps the dry vermouth tasting like the bartender's pour, not the back-shelf disappointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Carpano Dry and French dry vermouths like Noilly Prat?
French dry vermouths (Noilly Prat, Dolin) lean clean, floral, and slightly saline. Carpano Dry leans more aromatic — incense, candied fruit, alpine herbs, and a deeper herbal structure. Both work in a Martini; the Carpano version adds more dimension when the gin is botanical-forward.
How much vermouth goes in a classic Martini?
A classic dry Martini uses about 2.5 oz gin (or vodka) to 0.5 oz dry vermouth — a 5:1 ratio. For a 50/50 Martini, equal parts. For an extra-dry Martini, a rinse of vermouth in the glass before stirring the gin.
Should I refrigerate Carpano Dry Vermouth?
Yes — and this is the bottle most home bars get wrong. Dry vermouth oxidizes faster than people realize. Refrigerate after opening, and finish within 4–6 weeks for Martinis that taste right.
See the rest of our vermouth collection for matching sweet and bianco bottlings.
