Martini Bianco Vermouth Old Version 4 Liqueur Italy 70 cl

Some bottles carry more history than what's printed on the label. This Martini Bianco has sat through decades on shelves and in cabinets, still wearing its old emblem of the winged victory, the flags, and the forty medals across its chest.

Expert Description

This Martini Bianco Vintage Vermouth is an Italian vermouth from Martini & Rossi in Turin, made from white wine flavoured with herbs, spices, and beet sugar.

The label is of an older design featuring the "Premiati con 40 Medaglie" emblem and a German-language back label reading "Italienischer Wermutwein," pointing to a bottle intended for the German or Central European market. Martini Bianco was originally launched in 1910 under the name "Bianchissimo," inspired by the white flowers of the vanilla plant, and remains a lighter, milder style than the red Martini Rosso.

The bottle has never been opened, and its contents show the golden-green colour typical of aged vermouth. Because vermouth is wine-based, its taste and aroma shift over decades even unopened, so today the bottle's main value lies in the label, the history, and its rarity rather than in the liquid itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The original Martini Bianco is known for a perfumed nose of citrus, peach, and raspberry with a touch of tobacco and fresh bay leaf. At this age, expect a more oxidised, muted character.

Palate

The base recipe offers a sweet, honeyed character with lemon, ginger, and cinnamon. On a bottle this old, the exact taste can't be predicted without opening it.

Finish

Original Martini Bianco closes on sweet stewed apple and cinnamon. This bottle's actual finish is unknown and shouldn't be expected to match a new bottle.

Specifications

Name: Martini Bianco
Brand: Martini & Rossi
Country of Origin: Italy
Type: Vermouth
Size: 70 CL
Distillery: Martini & Rossi

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Herbal · Citrus · Vanilla

Investment Potential

Medium-high. The older label design with "Premiati con 40 Medaglie" and the German back label is no longer in production, and the bottle is sought after by collectors of vintage barware and vermouth labels rather than for consumption.

Did You Know?

The medal banner on the label refers to honours Martini & Rossi won at international exhibitions in Philadelphia and Paris in the latter half of the 1800s — and the company kept printing them on the label for decades afterward.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Martini Bianco Vintage Vermouth

Can you still drink a vintage Martini Bianco like this one?

It can't be recommended as a regular drink. Vermouth is wine-based and oxidises over time even unopened, so the taste on a bottle this old will differ sharply from a fresh one and shouldn't be expected to be enjoyable.

What makes this bottle a collector's item?

It's the combination of the older label design, the German-language back label, and the fact that it's never been opened. Details like these make it interesting to vintage barware collectors rather than for everyday use.

What does "Premiati con 40 Medaglie" on the label mean?

It means "awarded 40 medals" and refers to honours Martini & Rossi won at international exhibitions in the late 1800s. The company kept using the emblem on its labels for decades afterward.

When was Martini Bianco originally launched?

Martini Bianco launched in 1910 under the name "Bianchissimo." Today's version builds on the same base recipe, while bottles like this one represent an earlier chapter in the brand's label history.

How should an old, unopened bottle of vermouth be stored?

Cool, dark, and at a stable temperature, away from sunlight, whether standing or lying down. Since the bottle isn't intended for drinking anyway, storage is mostly about keeping the label and bottle in good condition.

What's the difference between Martini Bianco and Martini & Rossi's other vermouths?

Bianco is the pale, milder style with a touch of bitterness balanced by vanilla, while Martini Rosso is sweeter and darker, and Extra Dry is the sharp, citrus-forward style used in the classic Dry Martini.

Who founded Martini & Rossi?

The company started in 1863 in Turin with Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi as its driving forces, and has been called Martini & Rossi since 1879. Today the brand is owned by Bacardi.