How To Make The Best Martinis With Sweet Vermouth, According To A Cocktail Expert

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A martini is one of the quintessential classic cocktails, with gin or vodka in the lead and vermouth in a supporting role. Vermouth is an aromatized and fortified wine that's usually (but not always) either dry and pale yellow, or sweet and red. The most classic and prevalent version of a martini is one made with only gin and dry vermouth. It can be harder to find as many great martinis that use sweet vermouth when drier versions are so common ... but that doesn't mean it can't be done. To help us discover how to make the best martini using the sweeter vermouths out there, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, mixology maestro and author of "The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique," shares the best types of spirits, sweet vermouths, and other ingredients to use.

The best cocktails embrace cohesion and cooperation between their ingredients. To that end, Morgenthaler recommends reverse-engineering a sweeter martini's gin choice to match the vermouth you choose. "I find that sweet vermouth pairs especially well with a higher-proof gin, such as a navy-strength gin, to cut the sweetness of the vermouth," he explains. Navy-strength gins are typically 57% ABV or higher, while most other gins are around 40%. In the gin-versus-vodka martini debate, Morgenthaler explains his preference for martinis featuring sweet vermouths, stating, "I typically don't pair vodka with sweet vermouth; I like to let the vodka's clean character shine on its own."

If your gin preference is already locked, you can then choose a sweet vermouth to match. For the recommended higher-proof, navy-strength gins, Morgenthaler says, "I love Carpano Antica Formula, as its sweetness can offset that higher proof." If you don't happen to have any strong gins on hand, there are still sweet vermouths that can work. "For a lower-proof gin, I typically reach for a lighter style such as Dolin Rouge," says the expert. Morgenthaler also describes another just-for-fun approach that he takes when matching gin and vermouth. As he explains, "Sometimes I enjoy pairing a vermouth with a gin that shares its country of origin — Spanish gins with Spanish vermouths, etc."

Aside from opting for stronger gins that'll counter sweet vermouths, Morgenthaler recommends introducing a drop of orange bitters, which can also help create balance. You might also consider garnishing with a lemon twist over the briny olives that typically grace a dry martini. This addition can shine in a sweeter martini, adding great visual appeal and a pop of fresh citrus aroma while also leveling the sweetness.

You might enjoy martinis on just the slightly saccharine side; in which case, you can combine dry and sweet in a "perfect" martini. If you still want a little something extra, you might even replace the vermouth altogether with a liqueur like Cointreau. There's also more to sweet vermouth than boozy martinis; you might find that it can be the main character in low-alcohol cocktails.