Jump to content

Carpano "Antica Formula" Sweet Vermouth


Recommended Posts

And who the Carpano Antica Formula vermouth?

You can add Ace, Schneider’s, Macarthur, Silesa, and the Virginia ABC. Silesa had a bottle of Rittenhouse, but I bought it, so now they don’t have any left. But you might want to take a drive to Fort Washington the next time you need a Fee Brother's fix, they carry the orange bitters, and the aromatic along with the orange blossom water, orgeat, grenadine, and falernum (however, the gin selection is not that great).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, so who around town carries the Rittenhouse bottled-in-bond rye whiskey? And who the Carpano Antica Formula vermouth? (I can testify from today's research that neither Chevy Chase nor Calvert Woodley carries either.) I'm currently drinking what may very well be the first Manhattan I've ever had, made with Old Overholt, Vya sweet vermouth, and Fee Bros. aromatic bitters, and I must say it's very nice. I've generally stayed away from whiskey-based cocktails because they're usually made with bourbon, which I dislike (actually, the aversion is stronger than mere dislike), and Scotch used in a cocktail seems, well, weird. This rye stuff isn't bad. I should think that a decent variant of this cocktail could be made with Irish as well.

You really don't want to be going to CW for these things like Carpano Antica. While their prices on spirits is very good, they do not carry any "artisinal stuff". I find their spirit selection to be very run-of-the-mill. I saw Sthitch mentioned Bassin's, I was there today and they do not have the Antica Formula in stock. I was told that they have the "new eplacement" for it and retails for around $26.00 a bottle, but I can't remember the name of the vermouth off the top of my head.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw Sthitch mentioned Bassin's, I was there today and they do not have the Antica Formula in stock. I was told that they have the "new eplacement" for it and retails for around $26.00 a bottle, but I can't remember the name of the vermouth off the top of my head.

My list was meant to note those stores that do not currently have Carpano Antica Formula in stock. I did not see any of the sweet vermouth's on Bassin's shelf today that would make me steer away from Vya sweet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You really don't want to be going to CW for these things like Carpano Antica. While their prices on spirits is very good, they do not carry any "artisinal stuff". I find their spirit selection to be very run-of-the-mill.

Since they don't carry it, it would obviously be unwise to go to CW for Carpano Antica Formula. On the other hand, they do carry Carpano Punt e Mes, so in a sense they do carry stuff "like" Carpano Antica. As to spirits, CW carries a fairly broad range, although obviously they don't carry everything one could wish for. Their prices for spirits are the best in the city.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since they don't carry it, it would obviously be unwise to go to CW for Carpano Antica Formula. On the other hand, they do carry Carpano Punt e Mes, so in a sense they do carry stuff "like" Carpano Antica. As to spirits, CW carries a fairly broad range, although obviously they don't carry everything one could wish for. Their prices for spirits are the best in the city.

I disagree, for example look at their gin selection, average at best. Their scotch selection is subpar and that is being kind

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In several cocktail threads, this product has been mentioned, and I've had customers on the hunt for it, so I brought some in.
Please note that it is only available in a 1.0-liter bottle.

From the importer website:


..crimson Carpano Antica Formula (CAHR-pah-noh ahn-TEE-kah FOHR-moo-lah) is made from the Carpano distillery’s "ancient formula " for red vermouth. Only recently available in North America, Carpano Antica Formula is the king of red vermouth: although traditionally served straight up as an aperitif, after-dinner drink, or even as an accompaniment to rich desserts, it will transform a common Manhattan or Red Martini into a cocktail fit for even the most refined palate.


And just look at this attractive package:
15461_large.jpgimg10612279471.jpeg
I tell you, a fella can feel like an aristocrat just having this on his bar, much less serving it up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oooh, this is REALLY good stuff. Never had a more enjoyable cocktail than a Manhattan made with this vermouth. It is completely unlike typical red vermouth. We went through most of a bottle, mixing drinks during the Thanksgiving holiday, so I am glad to have a reliable source to buy more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

tell you, a fella can feel like an aristocrat just having this on his bar, much less serving it up.

Does one need to have aristocrat-sized pockets to afford a bottle of this stuff? What are we talking about price-wise here? This sounds like a great Christmas gift for my manhattan-drinking old man, if it's not too pricey.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does one need to have aristocrat-sized pockets to afford a bottle of this stuff? What are we talking about price-wise here? This sounds like a great Christmas gift for my manhattan-drinking old man, if it's not too pricey.

It's only about $31-33 civilian costs...so it's not going to break the bank...Go for it. Life is too short to drink cheap or lesser products wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/fooda...0,6565550.story

Leslie Brenner has included Carpano Antico Formula vermouth among her primo, sought-after, best-of-the-best aperitifs and liqueurs in this holiday gift-giving survey.

I picked up another bottle at Ace today, and it appears that Joe will need to re-stock, as the bottles are flying off of his shelves. A Manhattan made with good quality bourbon or rye, Carpano Antico, Peychaud's Bitters and home-marinated sour cherries* is one of the finest cocktails you will ever concoct.

*you can get dried sour cherries at Trader Joe's. Plump them in some brandy and sugar, let them soak for a few days in your fridge and forget about maraschino cherries forever.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're lazy like me, now's probably a good time to mention that Luxardo also sells jars of excellent marasca cherries in syrup. Not terribly surprising, considering they also make the benchmark maraschino liqueur.

cherriesLUX.jpg

My first encounter with Carpano Antica was, I suspect, like others' here - Derek Brown whipped up something with it, and it was amazing. In my case, I think it was a Manhattan at Agraria, followed by one of those Chartreuse Aviations that Jake thought up. And speaking of Aviations, here's an interesting blog in German with an Aviation recipe that calls for Violette. Darn those Suntory folks...they won't export their superb Hermes bitters.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

*you can get dried sour cherries at Trader Joe's. Plump them in some brandy and sugar, let them soak for a few days in your fridge and forget about maraschino cherries forever.

What brandy do you use for this?

If you're lazy like me, now's probably a good time to mention that Luxardo also sells jars of excellent marasca cherries in syrup. Not terribly surprising, considering they also make the benchmark maraschino liqueur.
cherriesLUX.jpg

Are these cherries available locally?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What brandy do you use for this?

I have some inexpensive Korbel brandy that I use for cooking--it's what they use for dosage of their sparkling wine. It's surprisingly good for cheap stuff, very mellow with no sharp edges. I added some Maraschino liqueur, but I don't think it is essential. I used fresh sour cherries, but I had a fabulous Carp-Ant Manhattan at Palena that used macerated dried cherries, so I know that they work equally well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Except in Virginia, of course. Not available at all.

Not quite true. Last month, I found 1L bottles at Brabo's market (The Butcher Block Market) in Old Town. I paid $39. I happened to buy a bottle yesterday at Beltway Liquors in Baltimore for $33, BTW.

What can be done to keep vermouth fresh for longer than a month? After the last bottle I bought, my wife and I drank a shitload of Manhattans, Anejo Manhattans (rum), Rum Manhattans, Boulevardiers and Negronis. Now, I'm not complaining because they were all outstanding, but I'd love to stretch out the bottle a little longer. Is it oxidation that affects vermouth? Can I layer carbon dioxide or the wine-saver-type of inert gas over what remains in the bottle? Can I split the bottle into several smaller aliquots and freeze them? What can I do??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely keep all open vermouth bottles in the refridgerator; the cold will retard oxidation. Vermouth is wine-based, after all.

If you feel like spltting a larger bottle into smaller ones, then yes, by all means, but still refridgerate.

It takes a long time for vermouth to really go "bad", as in unpalatable. Mostly, it just begins to lose its aromatics and becomes much less compelling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drink it by itself. On ice. With a twist. With cheese, charcuterie, or salumi. Thank me later.

Seconded. I had it for the first time after Thanksgiving last year, served over those big square ice cubes to keep it cold but not watered down, with a twist. I've been wanting to get a bottle for myself (central DC? Metro-accessible), but probably wouldn't regularly use it as a mixer because I enjoy it so much on its own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...