Updated April 2026.
Sweet and dry vermouth are the same class — fortified, aromatized wine — not two proofs of whiskey. EU vermouth must be at least 14.5% ABV (16% for dry styles). US bottles commonly print about 15–18%. A 1-ounce pour of 18% dry vermouth is 0.30 NIAAA standard drinks; 1 ounce of 15% sweet is 0.25. The split you taste is sugar and botanicals, not a hidden spirit. IBA Manhattan uses sweet red vermouth; IBA Dry Martini uses dry.
Martini & Rossi Extra Dry is widely listed at 18%; Rosso / Bianco have sat near 14.5–15% as producers chased the EU “vermouth” word. Carpano Antica and Dolin are other houses — read that neck. Related: Manhattan whiskey, IBA specs.
Which bottle goes in which glass
| Sweet / rosso | Dry / extra-dry | |
|---|---|---|
| Color / sugar | Red or amber; higher residual sugar | Pale; much less sugar |
| Typical US ABV | ~14.5–16% — read the neck | ~16–18% (Martini Extra Dry often 18%) |
| IBA job | Manhattan 20 ml; Negroni equal parts | Dry Martini (gin + dry vermouth) |
| 1 oz drinks at 15% / 18% | 0.25 | 0.30 |
| Fridge | Yes after opening — it is wine | Yes after opening |
A 750 mL of 18% dry vermouth is about 7.6 standard drinks — inventory for martinis, not a session of shots. Four Manhattans (50 ml 40% rye + 20 ml 15% sweet) are about 4.8 drinks from the whiskey plus ~0.7 from the vermouth. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Bianco / blanc is a third, sweeter pale style — not “dry.” No 2026 MSRP.
Sources
- EU vermouth definition: wine + wormwood; 14.5% min (16% dry). US bottles are labels, not one federal vermouth proof.
- IBA Manhattan (50/20/1 dash); IBA Dry Martini. Fetched via IBA pages this project.
- Martini Extra Dry 18% / Rosso ~14.5–15% from 2025 rebrand reporting. SKU. NIAAA (December 2025).