From the hills of Piedmont straight to your patio, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino is the sweet vermouth that brings many Italian cocktails to life. Steeped in tradition, the brand has been a popular choice amongst bartenders for years, and no wonder, Cocchi works well in many drinks, from bitter Negroni to rich Manhattan, plus countless riffs in between.
Now it’s your turn to get mixing with this elegant and aromatic fortified wine!
Learn more about vermouth – Types of Vermouth Explained
The Story of Cocchi
Giulio Cocchi was originally from Florence, where he worked as a pastry chef in Piazza del Duomo. In the 19th century he relocated to Asti, in the north-west of Italy near Turin. The region’s fascinating food and wine traditions, and Asti being the capital of Moscato wine, inspired Giulio to start creating his own special wines. From 1891 he worked as a distiller and sparkling wine maker, blending a range of aromatic wines, such as Barolo Chinato, Aperitivo Americano and several vermouths.
Of course, word spread and demand for his wines grew. Giulio started working with various retailers where customers could try his products. In 1913 there were seven Cocchi tasting bars in Piedmont, which eventually grew to 12 establishments. From there on his name spread and Cocchi wines travelled all to way to New York, Sydney, Venezuela, Colonial Africa and London. You can still experience some specialist Cocchi Bars in Italy. In Asti you can find Bar Cocchi in Piazza Alfieri, Bar Barolino Cocchi in Turin, Bar Barolo Chinato Cocchi in Savona and Bar Barolino in Levanto.
Today, the brand is owned and operated by the Bava family, who are renowned wine makers. In 2011 they decided to relaunch Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino, 16% ABV, using the original recipe. The revival of the aromatic fortified wine has been the driving force behind the increased interest in the Vermouth di Torino sweet vermouth category worldwide.
Shop Cocchi Vermouth on Amazon.
Three ways to drink Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
Neat
The simplest way is to serve Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino chilled from the fridge and garnish with lemon peel. The perfect drink for busy people and those not big on storing too many bottles at home.
Cocchi Spritz
It wouldn’t be Italy without the Spritz! The sweet vermouth adds just enough sweetness and lovely balance of herbal notes, whereas the grapefruit and rosemary tonic elevate the bitter notes. But feel free to play around with different tonic waters.
50ml Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
75ml London Essence Grapefruit and Rosemary Tonic Water
Rosemary Sprig for garnish
Fill a tall glass with ice. Measure in the Cocchi Vermouth di Torino and tonic water of your choice and give it a gentle stir. Add garnish and serve. Ideally with snacks like the Italians do – olives, salted nuts, crisps…
Negroni
It’s hard to beat the classic. Many Negroni lovers reach for Cocchi Storico when making a Negroni. Best served with a juniper-heavy London Dry Gin.
25ml Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino
25ml London Dry Gin (such as Sipsmith)
25ml Campari
Measure all into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir well. Strain into a tumbler, ideally over a large cube. Garnish with some orange. The lazy version is to fill a tumbler with ice, measure in all the ingredients, give it a quick stir and garnish with orange peel. Enjoy!
Have you tried Cocchi Vermouth di Torino? Which of the three sweet vermouth drinks would you choose?
Disclaimer: This blog has been created in collaboration with Speciality Brands to help promote Cocchi Spritz. Some links are affiliate links.
