Antica Formula

Antica Formula is listed here in the liqueur category. The name is widely associated with a rich, sweet, Italian-style red vermouth, so expect a fortified, aromatized wine profile rather than a clear spirit. This listing doesn't give an ABV, origin or ingredient list, so check the bottle label for those. The notes below describe what this style usually delivers, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a dark amber to mahogany pour with a pronounced vanilla aroma, backed by dried fruit, warm baking spice, cocoa and orange peel. Styles like this are noticeably sweet and full-bodied, with a gentle bitter edge from botanicals such as wormwood and citrus rind that stops the sweetness from turning syrupy. The finish tends to be long, with vanilla and spice lingering after the sweetness fades. Its most common use is as the sweet vermouth in stirred whiskey cocktails. In a Manhattan, a rye or bourbon base with a rich vermouth like this gives a rounder, more dessert-like drink than a leaner vermouth would, so many bartenders cut back on any added sugar or cherry syrup. It also works in a Negroni, where it softens the gin-and-bitter-aperitif sharpness. The same goes for a Boulevardier, which swaps in whiskey for gin. A Rob Roy, Americano or Vieux Carré also uses it well. It can be served on its own. Pour about 2 ounces over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and add an orange peel, either twisted over the drink or dropped in. For a lighter aperitif, build it over ice with soda or sparkling water at roughly 1 part vermouth to 2 parts soda, and garnish with an orange slice or an olive. Food pairings that fit are salty cured meats, aged hard cheeses, roasted nuts and dark chocolate. Whichever way you use it, store an opened bottle in the refrigerator with the cap tightly closed, because fortified, aromatized wines lose their aromatics faster at room temperature.