40 best rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth cocktails

At the time of compiling this in late July 2004, there were 1,035 Difford's Guide rosso/sweet vermouth cocktails, and the following are my section of the 40 best cocktails using rosso/sweet vermouth.

The Addington

A beautifully balanced, spirit-forward, stirred, cognac-based cocktail with Vermouth di Torino and herbal liqueur.

Ampersand Cocktail

A boozy brandy-influenced 'wet' and 'sweet' Martini with a hint of orange. The zesty orange notes help the cleansing attributes of this spirit-forward

Americano

Bittersweet, lightly effervescent, long and refreshing.

Apple Blossom Cocktail

Concentrated lightly herbal apple with subtle zesty citrus. Quick to make and stupidly simple yet delicious.

Bamboo (Savoy's 1930 recipe)

The simplest, one of the best and dryest renditions of the Bamboo cocktail. It may be simple but the combination of vermouth and fino makes for a fabulously

Bijou Cocktail (Difford's recipe)

It is not uncommon to see Bijou recipes with equal parts gin, Chartreuse and sweet vermouth, as called for in Harry Johnson's Bartender's Manual. In fact,

Blood and Sand (Difford's recipe)

The equal parts Blood and Sand (scotch, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and orange juice) formula from the 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book is the accepted

Bobby Burns (Difford's own)

This recipe combines elements from the world's most respected writers of vintage recipes – the base formula comes from Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy

Bonaparte's Manhattan

This subtly mandarin orange-influenced Sweet Manhattan is made drier and all the more complex, not by dashes of bitters, but by a slug of Italian amaro.

Brooklyn (Grohusko's original)

Despite the generous dose of Italian 'sweet' vermouth, rye whiskey shines in this harmonious Sweet Manhattan-like dry cocktail.

Bushwick

This Italian-American blend is better and even more gripping than Godfather II.

Difford's Fruit Cup No.1 (gin based & Pimm's Cup-like)

This long refreshing fruity cocktail mimics the characteristics of a Pimm's Cup but with the punch and fullness flavour, reminiscent of distant decades

Emerson

The botanical notes of old tom with herbal vermouth, zesty citrus and sweet maraschino. Reminiscent of a Last Word without Chartreuse.

Enrico Pallazzo

A bittersweet Manhattan-style lightly sparkling cocktail.

Froupe Cocktail

A bittersweet, herbal old-school drink that's in line for rediscovery.

Gin & It

Remembering both vermouth and gin are flavoured with similar botanicals, they obviously have an affinity for each other. This drink may be simple but made

Hanky Panky Cocktail

This is basically a Sweet Martini influenced by the addition of bittersweet and aromatic fernet liqueur.

Harvard

Old-school, but approachably so. Dry and herbal. A great apéritif.

Income Tax Cocktail

A Bronx with equal parts rosso and dry vermouths and with Angostura in place of orange bitters.

Irish Boulevardier

Blended Irish whiskey replaces richer bourbon in this mellow yet dry riff on the classic Boulevardier.

Iron Negroni

Black in colour and with a flavour that's recognisably part of the Negroni family but with a flat Coke-like smoothness that makes a classic Negroni taste

Islander

Vermouth-based and bittersweet with anise and fennel, and depending on your scotch, also faint smokiness.

High Ryeser

With thanks to Bob Cook, a Discerning Drinker, who on 27th October 2020 left a comment with the recipe for this delicious high-proof whiskey, equal parts

Kiss

Gin-forward with a kiss of aromatised wine and maraschino. For a more delicate Kiss, cut the gin back to 45ml or even 30ml and add one or two dashes respectively

La Louisiane

A rye-based Sweet Manhattan made even sweeter with herbal Bénédictine liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts

Manhattan (Sweet)

I prefer my Manhattans served Sweet, or Perfect at a push. The Manhattan is complex, challenging and moreish. Best of all, it's available in a style to

McKinley's Delight

A cherry brandy influenced Sweet Manhattan with extra complexity courtesy of a dash of absinthe.

Milano Torino (Mi-To) Cocktail

The drink that led to both the Negroni and the Americano. Pause and enjoy its simplicity before progressing.

Negroni Cocktail

Glowing red, the Negroni manages to be both sophisticated and simple at the same time and is definitely for a grown-up palate - for many it's simply too

Old Flame

As Dale DeGroff, this cocktail's creator, says, it's a Negroni softened by fresh orange juice and a splash of triple sec.

Preakness Manhattan

A Sweet Manhattan with a herbal touch of Bénédictine and cognac. Drier and more complex than our Preakness Cocktail recipe.

Remember the Maine

Charles H. Baker says of this twist on a Sazerac, Treat this one with the respect it deserves, gentleman. As this relation to the Sazerac, I previously

Rob Roy Cocktail

Scotch whisky's answer to the Manhattan. The Rob Roy is classically made with Angostura Bitters, but in his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, as a footnote

Sin Cyn

A single malt whisky laced twist on a Boulevardier with Cynar replacing the familiar Italian red bitter liqueur.

Tipperary No.1

Chartreuse fans will love this Irish whiskey-forward nightcap.

Turf Club

Simple but very tasty, equal parts old tom gin and sweet vermouth with aromatic bitters. Winter's original 1884 recipe calls for Peruvian bitters - I found

Velasco and Sand

Mezcal adds a faintly smoky note to this riff on the classic Blood and Sand. The proportion of spirit and orange juice is slightly raised from the usual

Vieux Carré Cocktail

A Sweet Manhattan served on-the-rocks with added herbal complexity and an all-important splash and dash or two of New Orleans bitters. Driven by comments

Waldorf No. 1

It may go against modern bartending etiquette, but this modern riff on the original equal parts Waldorf is best enjoyed shaken rather than stirred. The

Warday's Cocktail

Apple brandy with complex botanical influences from both gin and Chartreuse mellowed by botanically enriched fortified wine. If you like spirit-forward