Martini Extra Dry Vermouth Old Version 5 Liqueur Italy 100 cl

Bottles like this one sat on bar shelves long before anyone thought to call a cocktail a "signature drink." This green glass bottle, with its worn, old-world label, belongs to an era when Vermouth Sec from Turin was itself the mark of European sophistication.

Expert's Description

Martini Extra Dry Vermouth 1 Liter is a dry, herb-infused vermouth from the Italian house Martini & Rossi, bottled in an older label design no longer found on current shelves. This particular bottle was filled for the German market by Martini & Rossi AG in Bad Kreuznach, as shown on the back label alongside serving instructions printed in German and English.

Martini Extra Dry has always been the driest of the house's classic styles, and it has served as the backbone of the Dry Martini cocktail for well over a century. The recipe starts from a white wine base infused with an extract of barks, roots and herbs, holding bitterness in check in favour of a clean, almost delicate character.

The label design on this bottle predates what's sold in shops today, and it's exactly this kind of discontinued packaging variant that collectors keep an eye out for. Pinning down precisely when this bottling was made requires checking the base of the bottle or under the cap for a date or batch code.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Delicate and perfumed, with raspberry, a touch of honeydew melon and a citrus edge of lemon peel, tied together by a light floral note of acacia.

Palate

Apple skin and a hint of orris root lead the way, with rootier notes surfacing mid-palate without ever tipping into dryness — the bitterness is present, but it never smothers the fruit.

Finish

Light and spiced, with cinnamon and white peach that fade quietly rather than lingering.

Specifications

Name: Martini Extra Dry Vermouth 1 Liter
Distillery: Martini & Rossi
Type: Vermouth (Extra Dry)
Size: 100 CL
EAN no.: 4037800113216
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy ice-cold as a straight aperitif, on the rocks, or as the dry component in a classic Dry Martini cocktail.

Investment Potential

Low to medium. The liquid itself carries no collector value, but the discontinued label design and the older German bottling make this bottle of interest to anyone collecting vintage bar memorabilia and Martini & Rossi's history.

Did You Know?

The name of the Martini cocktail most likely doesn't come from the gin brand of the same name at all, but from this very vermouth — recipes for a gin-and-vermouth drink featuring Martini already existed in 1888, long before anyone called the drink itself a "Martini."

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Frequently Asked Questions about Martini Extra Dry Vermouth 1 Liter

What makes this bottle a collector's item?

It's the label design and bottling, not the contents, that make it interesting. This edition carries an older layout and was bottled for the German market by Martini & Rossi AG in Bad Kreuznach — a variant no longer in production.

Can you still drink the contents if the bottle is old?

Vermouth is a fortified, aromatised product and keeps longer than still wine, but an opened or very old bottle should be smelled and tasted carefully before serving — oxidation can significantly change both aroma and flavour over the years.

How do you date a bottle like this?

Look for a date or batch code stamped into the glass on the base or under the cap. Label design, barcode format and the absence of health warnings can also hint at the rough period.

How is Martini Extra Dry served classically?

Ice-cold as a straight aperitif, on the rocks in a tumbler, or as the dry component in a Dry Martini cocktail alongside gin and an olive or lemon twist.

What does Martini Extra Dry taste like?

Delicate and herbaceous, with raspberry, lemon peel and a touch of apple skin, finishing light and spiced — the driest of the house's classic vermouth styles.

Why is the cocktail called a "Martini" when it's also the name of the vermouth?

The two are historically linked. Vermouth from Martini & Rossi was already a staple ingredient in early gin-and-vermouth drinks back in the 1880s, long before "Martini" became the name of the cocktail itself.

What's the difference between Martini Extra Dry and Martini Bianco?

Extra Dry is the driest and least sweet of the two, made without added colour and minimal sweetness, while Bianco is sweeter and more vanilla-forward with a visible golden colour.