We believe that the best way to enjoy this, initially at least, is to grab yourself a short glass, a few ice cubes and pour over.

And partnered with gins, choose something big and robust as the Antica Formula will probably overpower it anyway. Vermouth is known to have been prepared by old civilisations, including the Romans, under the name Absinthiatum (or Absinthianum) vinum. The predicament that comes with such a formidable vermouth is that while using it in a negroni or a Manhattan will make you an inimitable cocktail, it feels almost wasteful to cordialise this drink. This “nectar of the gods” is characterized in the taste and aroma made from an selected infusion of mountain herbs and spices, one of which is saffron.With Vermouth in the midst of a spirited revival, Antica Formula is the Italian Vermouth par excellence. This vermouth is good in various whiskey cocktails and really, I think, the gold standard for Manhattans. With a bold, yet rich sweet structure, delivering a truly exquisite complexity to a classic Manhattan. It was Antonio Benedetto Carpano, who gave importance to wormwood in his 1786 recipe for Antica Formula. He subsequently named it vermouth, from the German word “wermuth” for wormwood, to differentiate his product.

The recipe includes unmistakable vanilla notes, prized saffron, citrus fruits, dried raisins and cloves. BEVI RESPONSABILMENTE FRATELLI BRANCA DISTILLERIE SPA VIA BROLETTO 35, 20121 MILANO Iscritta al registro imprese di Milano al n. It’s the main ingredient in cocktails such as Negroni, Americano or Hanky Panky, offered in the most exclusive restaurants and bars in Italy and worldwide. Vermouth gets its characteristic taste from Artemisia (wormwood), an ingredient that, according to regulations, is crucial for it to be considered a vermouth.Read our review of Antica's traditional vermouth to discover it's flavour profile, plus serving suggestions and recipes.

From its amaranth and brilliant color with highlights of amber, to the nose a bouquet of vanilla emerges which comes together with notes of spices, citrus and dried fruits like raisins and cloves. Antica Formula was created by Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the inventor of Vermouth, in 1786 in Turin, Italy. The only exception so far has been with extremely woody bourbons, but i have yet to find a vermouth for those.The saffron is imported from Iran and vanilla beans are flown in from as far afield as Madagascar, the use of vanilla aiding digestion as well as adding a creaminess and roundness to the vermouth.

To the palate a rich a rich vanilla taste emerges, with hints of bitter orange, dates, cocoa beans, cherries and saffron. Each bottle of Antica Formula is individually numbered, and it really does make a great Manhattan, as well as being an excellent digestif. Along with the inclusion of Artemisia, vermouth requires a minimum composition of 75% wine, and has an alcoholic volume of between 14.You end up with something that feels like "medicine that's surprisingly pleasant" - great when you're unwell as a child and are dreading something icky, but not what you actually want a cocktail to taste like. Antica Formula is also the show-stopping main ingredient in classic cocktails including the Negroni, Americano, Manhattan, and Hanky Panky. An incredibly good red vermouth which was originally used to make the Martinez (the grandfather of the martini).