Classic Vermouth Cocktail

History

Fittingly, the "Vermuth Cocktail" is the first cocktail with vermouth to appear in a recipe book. Although this 1869 recipe in J. Haney's 1869 Steward and Barkeeper's Manual is not so much a cocktail, but simply vermouth served with ice and a lemon zest twist.

VERMUTH COCKTAIL
One wine glass of vermouth; one very small piece of ice; one small piece of lemon peel. Serve in a thin stemmed wine glass with curved lip.

J. Haney, Steward and Barkeeper's Manual, 1869

By Harry Johnson's 1882 New & Improved Bartender's Manual, the spelling and recipe for the Vermouth Cocktail are in line with those of today.

VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
(Use a large bar glass.)
Three-quarters glass of shaved ice;
4 or 5 dashes of gum;
1 or 2 dashes of orange bitters;
2 dashes of Maraschino;
1 wine glass Vermouth;
stir up well with a spoon, strain it into a cocktail glass, twist a piece of lemon peel on top, and serve.

Harry Johnson, 1888

He repeats this recipe in the 1888 edition but swaps orange bitters for Boker's bitters.

102. VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
(Use a large bar glass.)
¾ glass of shaved ice ;
4 or 5 dashes of gum ;
2 or 3 dashes of Bitters (Boker's genuine only) ;
1 wine glass Vermouth ;
2 dashes of Maraschino ;
Stir up well with a spoon ; strain it into a cocktail glass, twist a piece of lemon peel on top, and serve.

Harry Johnson, 1888

It also notably features in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book but with a much-simplified recipe.

VERMOUTH COCKTAIL.
1 Glass Italian or French Vermouth.
4 Dashes Orange or 1 Dash Angostura Bitters.
Stir well and strain into cocktail glass

Harry Craddock, 1930