A Non-Alcoholic Sweet Vermouth Worth Celebrating
/Cocktail opportunities abound with Martini's Vibrante
Spring in a glass.
That's what I thought as I poured, sipped, and savoured Vibrante, the new(ish) non-alcoholic aperitivo from Martini.
Vibrante -- think sweet-vermouth-meets-spritzable-aperitif flavoured with Italian Bergamot orange -- was released in January 2022 alongside Floreale, a dry vermouth-like non-alcoholic aperitif with chamomile (review to come).
Vibrante is an attractively packaged product that wouldn't look out of place in any high-end bar. The old-world-meets-new label echoes Martini's classic, recognizable design, and the liquid itself positively shines in the simple clear glass bottle.
Immediately upon seeing Vibrante and Floreale at my local Quality Foods, my mind raced with the possibilities for alcohol-free versions of classic cocktails that call for vermouth. Manhattan! Martini! Negroni!
But lacking the necessary ingredients this early on in my adventure in sobriety, I opted to follow the recipe on the back of the bottle for my first foray.
Cocktail hour had arrived.
The evening sun illuminated the lively, orange-red concoction. I breathed in the aroma of the Mediterranean -- bright citrus, rich bergamot, fresh oregano -- and sipped.
The first taste was nothing short of fantastic.
It was surprisingly complex, and lacked nothing.
The fresh-sliced orange -- I couldn't resist squeezing out the juice before dropping it into the glass -- accentuated the bergamot and balanced the dry, slightly bitter finish.
"It's like I'm having a drink, but there's no alcohol," my partner said.
To say it was quaffable would be an understatement. My thirst was simultaneously satisfied and stimulated.
A second taste quickly led to a third. Before I knew it, the ice cubes were tinkling in the empty glass.
Martini recommends pairing Vibrante with light, salty snacks during aperitivo hour. But I very much enjoyed it on its own.
I look forward to experimenting more with Vibrante.
Good thing there's plenty left in the bottle. And plenty of spring just around the corner.
Sugar content: 4g/oz
SGCF Sugar Rating: 2 (3 - no sugar or less than 3g/serving, 2 - between 3 & 6g per serving, 1 - over 6g per serving)
Liam Ford, Contributor
Liam is a poet, writer, and editor with a decade of experience as a bartender under his belt. His mission? To find an alcohol-free craft beer that satisfies his craving for hops.
