Guides and tasting notes

What Is Vermouth? Sweet, Dry and Blanc Vermouth Styles Explained

Vermouth is wine flavoured with wormwood and other botanicals, and usually fortified. Here is how sweet, dry and blanc styles differ, which bottle suits a Negroni or Martini, and how to store it once opened.

Bitters Explained: Cocktail Bitters, Bitter Liqueurs and Amaro

"Bitters" means two different things: dash bottles used a few drops at a time, and bitter liqueurs poured by the glass. This guide sorts them out, then walks through cocktail bitters, the Italian bitter rosso, amaro, fernet and the Australian makers, with a bottle for each.