Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth (75cl, 16.5%)

Carpano Antica Formula is a sweet Italian vermouth from Turin, made by Carpano in a 75cl bottle at 16.5% abv. Antonio Benedetto Carpano first blended this style in his Turin shop in 1786, and the modern bottling, released in the 1990s, pays tribute to that original recipe. It is built on Moscato wine with herbs and spices, giving a richer and more aromatic profile than most sweet vermouths. It is often used in stirred drinks such as the Negroni and the Manhattan. The nose offers vanilla, dried fig, saffron and bitter orange peel. On the palate come caramel, raisin, clove, gentian root and dried herbs, leading to a long, bittersweet finish with cocoa and a faint smokiness.