Vermouth comes from Turin, Italy, where it was once used medicinally, but became a popular leisurely drink by the 18th century. A premiere vermouth that's as traditional as it gets is still available on the contemporary market, and has managed to stay exactly the same as it was in the 1700s —- the brand known as Carpano Antica.

By staying faithful to its origin, Carpano Antica vermouth has been able to withstand the test of time, and uses the original Turin Vermouth recipe created by alcohol pioneer Antonio Benedetto Carpano in 1786. The drink has a spice-forward palette featuring saffron, dried fruit, and heavy bitterness, and the glass bottle is even blown by hand.

Carpano Antica is also slightly sweet with a full-bodied mouthfeel, and is made exclusively from Italian-grown white wine grapes that are processed within 24 hours of harvesting. Like other vermouths and wines, Carpano Antica's shelf life is only six to four weeks at room temp, so if you get your hands on a bottle, enjoy it as fast as you can.