My first impression of vermouth was from a bottle of Martini & Rossi’s dry vermouth which had been opened a long time ago, in a land far, far away, and then left to sit in my basement for about four years before I attempted my first martini. I was not impressed. It was, I thought, white wine well on its way to being vinegar. Apparently I was right.
Like wines, vermouth does not store well on the shelf, particularly when opened, and should be kept in the refrigerator or the wine cellar if you’re not planning to drink it all at once. Thus, unless you’re planning to host a party, it’s best to purchase the small bottles. After all, it’s only one of vermouth for every two of gin.