Will storing a mix of vermouths alter their taste?
The recipe I have for a manhattan cocktail calls for 2.5:.5:.5 Bourbon:dry vermouth:red vermouth.
Will mixing the dry and red vermouth together and storing before making the cocktails adversely affect the taste of the cocktail? Is it safe to pre-mix and store constituent alcohols? If so, for how long?
Best Answer
It would certainly be safe. Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning that it is wine with added alcohol. The added alcohol gives the vermouth a much longer shelf life, even at room temperature after the bottle is opened. You can store open vermouth for at least several months without any discernible loss of quality. It will continue to be safe indefinitely as long as the bottle is kept closed, keeping the alcohol from evaporating.
That said, I can see no reason why two vermouths couldn't be mixed in advance. As a matter of fact, you could add the bourbon too. Perhaps some kind of alcohol super-taster could tell the difference, but I sincerely doubt that any mere mortal would be able to tell the difference between a just-mixed Manhattan and one that was mixed 3 months ago (assuming, of course, an airtight container).
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How do you store vermouths?
Store it in the Refrigerator Once open, your vermouth needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It'll stay in good shape for about a month, and then in passable shape for about two months after that. If you can't use it up within three months, invite some friends over, or give it away.Do vermouths expire?
Vermouths are great fresh, but that doesn't mean they can't sit a few years in the pantry or your wine cellar. Generally speaking, to get the best quality you should use the vermouth within about 3 to 4 years of bottling. If there's a best-by date on the bottle, just add 2 to 3 years to it, and you're good to go.Do you need to refrigerate extra dry vermouth?
Whether it's dry vermouth (maybe you're making a Fifty-Fifty Martini), sweet red vermouth (for negronis), or the in-between bianco (for a new twist on a negroni), it needs to go in the fridge\u2014where it won't last longer than a few months.Does Vermouth Go Bad? / Expiration \u0026 Shelf Life / The More You Know
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