Drinking strong spirits straight has detrimental effects on health. Vermouth, compared to these spirits, has a low percentage of alcohol.
Considering this, can you drink sweet vermouth straight? Is it good or bad for your health?
Sweet vermouth is a mildly alcoholic drink that you can drink straight. Read out the article to know more about the vermouth!
What is Sweet Vermouth?
Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine infused with botanicals for flavor and aroma. It’s known as red vermouth, too, because of its red color.
The wine is a creation of Italy. That’s why it’s also known as Italian vermouth in many places. Though it originated in Italy, the wine is now famous all over the world.
Red vermouth has a base of white wine. Later, it’s mixed with sugar, botanical distillate, and spirit to increase its alcoholic content.
The alcoholic content of the vermouth ranges from 14% to 22%. Sometimes it’s also placed in an oak cask or vat to age the wine.
What’s the Purpose of Sweet Vermouth?
Sweet vermouth contains 15% sugar. It has a vanilla-like aroma with notes of spices and herbs.
Due to its aroma and sweeter taste, sweet vermouth is widely used in cocktails.
Besides, if you are thinking of making chocolate sauces, jams, or any other dessert, you can add sweet vermouth for a sugary taste. It works perfectly in sweet dishes.
Furthermore, it’s also a substitute for red wine. If you don’t have red wine, sweet vermouth will always help you.
Can You Drink It Straight?
As already mentioned, sweet vermouth has a lesser percentage of alcohol. So, yes, you can have it straight.
In Italy and Spain, drinking it straight is quite common. But due to its spicy taste and hint of herbs, many people don’t like the taste.
You can drink it straight from the bottle if the taste is okay.
Are There Any Benefits of Drinking Sweet Vermouth Straight?
Many alcoholic beverages, when drunk, directly affect your stomach health. Besides, there are a lot more side effects of consuming highly alcoholic drinks.
But in the case of sweet vermouth, that’s not the case. According to some findings, adequate consumption has a lot of health benefits.
These benefits are due to the infusion of many botanicals in the liquor. Here are some of the plus points.
1. Prevents Your Body from Oxidative Stress
Sweet vermouth has antioxidants that fight against the free radicals present in your body. In this way, your body is saved from oxidative damage.
2. Good for Your Digestive Health
The herbal mix present in it helps in digestion and makes bowel movement smooth.
3. Improves Your Blood Circulation
The herbs in the fortified wine improve blood circulation.
4. Reduces Harmful Body Fluids
Sweet vermouth also helps in reducing body fluids.
When you consume vermouth neat, you get the maximum health benefits from the wine.
Can Sweet Vermouth Get You Drunk?
Before drinking any alcohol, the question ” Will it make you drink?” is always in your mind. Right now you have the same question for sweet vermouth. Isn’t it?
Well! To your surprise, the answer is no. The alcoholic content of vermouth is already too low. When you add ice cubes, the fortified wine gets even more diluted.
That’s why it doesn’t get you drunk.
However, if you overconsume it, you’ll get slightly drunk.
What Is Stronger: Sweet Vermouth or Wine?
People often need clarification when asked about more potent wine. Do you know which is stronger?
Oh! You don’t know? That is not a big deal. Let’s tell you!
Vermouth is a fortified wine, so its alcoholic content is more than regular unfortified wines. That means sweet vermouth is more potent than wine.
How to Store Sweet Vermouth?
The higher the alcoholic content of a drink, the longer its shelf-life. Since the alcoholic content in vermouth is not too much, it can stay for two months once opened.
To keep it for that much time, you need to store it immediately once opened. How’ll you do that?
Here are a few guidelines for you.
- Keep the fortified wine in a dark area where direct sunlight can’t reach.
- It must be at a cooler temperature.
- Ensure that after every use, you close the cap tightly.
Considering these conditions, the ideal place for open sweet vermouth is a refrigerator. So please put it in it and try to finish it within 2 months.
What’s the Best Way to Serve Sweet Vermouth?
You can serve vermouth in several ways. It can be a part of your desserts.
Besides, martini and other vermouth cocktails are also available options to explore. However, if you want to have it straight, pour it into a glass filled with ice cubes.
Garnish it with a twisted lime rind. It’ll give your drink a citrusy mouthfeel. It’s the best way to celebrate the flavors of sweet vermouth.
Is There a Substitute for Sweet Vermouth?
Are you looking for a sweet vermouth substitute? Well, try dry red wine, then. It’s the best substitute for sweet vermouth.
Can You Make Martini with Sweet Vermouth?
Martini is the world’s most loved cocktail. You can add sweet vermouth to it.
It will give your drink some bright flavors and reduce the harshness of gin. The sweetness of vermouth is a nice treat for your palate.
What Does Sweet Vermouth Taste Like?
Vermouth is a fortified wine. It’s infused with sugar, spices, and a lot of botanicals.
Due to this infusion, sweet vermouth has a sweet, spicy, and herbaceous taste.
Wrapping It Up
Vermouth is a fortified wine that originated in Italy. It’s infused with many botanicals to give it a spicy taste with a hint of different herbs.
Besides, it also contains a small percentage of sugar, which tastes sweet. Many people don’t like its taste.
But it doesn’t mean you can’t have it straight. If you can bear the flavors of sweet vermouth, you can go for vermouth directly.
Neat and adequate consumption of sweet vermouth has a lot of health benefits too.
