Recognised variation

Cardinale

Dry vermouth swapped for sweet. Leaner, sharper, closer to a Martini.

Structure

Base structure
  • Required
  • Optional
What changed from the Classic
Out
Sweet vermouth
In
Dry vermouth
Kept
GinRed bitter

Taste

  • Bitterness
    GentleBitter
  • Sweetness
    DrySweet
  • Body
    LightFull
  • Herbal character
    CleanHerbal
  • Strength feel
    SofterStronger
The story

The dry cousin, and an official one at that. The appeal is plainer than the pedigree suggests: take the Negroni shape and pull the rosso cushion out. Keep the gin and Campari, swap the sweet vermouth for dry, and it goes lean, less round body and more of a sharp herbal edge, closer to Martini territory. Thin dry vermouth is the one to avoid, since with nothing behind it the drink ends up all edge and no middle.

Mixes in this family