If you love rich herbal flavours that blend sweet and bitter, then you’re bound to love Carpano. Invented in Italy in the late 18th century, this sweet vermouth has since become an iconic favourite either neat, as an aperitif, or in cocktails. Here’s everything you should know about this delicious aperitif, from what to mix it with, where it comes from, and where you should try it in Italy!
A Concise History of Carpano
Carpano originated in 1786 in the Northern Italian city of Turin when the Italian distiller Antonio Benedetto Carpano created a formula that combined herbs and spices with muscatel (a kind of wine made from muscat grapes). Antonio owned a wine shop just across from the Royal Palace of Turin, and his invention soon gained prominence when the Savoy king Vittorio Amedeo III adopted his vermouth as the royal drink of choice.
This wasn’t just any aperitif; it was bold, aromatic, and unlike anything else available in Italy. Word spread quickly around Turin, and soon everyone wanted a taste, convincing Antonio to keep his shop open 24 hours a day. In 1820, Giuseppe Bernardino Carpano, Antonio’s nephew, formalised the family business by establishing his own liquor and vermouth store: Fabbrica di Liquori e Vermut Giuseppe Carpano.
Throughout the 19th century, Carpano’s popularity boomed, propelling this vermouth to become the city’s aperitif of choice. After the family’s purchase of a nearby factory, its production had become industrialised. But the original establishment remained a favourite among celebrities of the age, such as Count Cavour and the composer Giuseppe Verdi.
In 1939, amid the upheavals of World War II, the business was sold to Silvio Turati, a Turin industrialist who preserved the drink’s traditional character. Post-war, Turati expanded its commercial reach through innovative advertising campaigns, featuring artists like Mauzan and Dudovich, and sponsorships, including the cycling team of Fausto Coppi. In 2001, the Milanese distillery Fratelli Branca Distillerie acquired Carpano, enhancing its product range and emphasising innovation without losing sight of tradition.
What Does Carpano Taste Like?
The Carpano family features several kinds of liquor, from the traditional Antica Formula and Carpano Classico to the more recent Carpano Dry and Carpano Botanic Bitter. Each has a unique taste profile and excels neat, on the rocks, or as part of a cocktail.
Carpano Antica Formula: The original classic rosso vermouth has a dry, earthy aroma redolent of citrus peel and dried flowers. It is quite strong, at 16.5% gradation, and its flavour is deep and rich, with caramel and vanilla notes and a complex herbaceous character that starts sweet and finishes with a lingering bitterness tinged with cinnamon and warm spices. Antica Formula is perfect as an aperitif, drunk neat or on the rocks.
The Classico has less aromatic intensity than the Antica Formula. But its spicy, citrusy hints come together in a harmonious blend of flavours, complementing the vanilla and wormwood notes, to give this vermouth a balanced and smooth, unique taste. Its dark colour derives from the 100% natural burnt sugar, which gives the product its essential aromatic note.
Dark in colour but with a light initial sweetness, Carpano Punt e Mes stands out through its lingering aftertaste of assertive, cascading bitterness that pushes this distinctive vermouth close to the category of Italian amari (bitters). It goes well with strong-flavoured cocktails like Negroni.
How to Drink Carpano: Tips for the Perfect Serve
Carpano is a deliciously versatile aperitif which can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a range of classic and experimental cocktails. Here’s how we like to enjoy it.
Neat or on the Rocks: For a pure taste experience, try Carpano on its own, poured over ice, with an orange peel to bring out its aromatic notes.
Smashed Carpano: To make this simple cocktail, fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in the Carpano Classico and the soda. Stir the glass gently from the bottom to the top and add a mint sprig for extra freshness.
Classic Cocktails: This sweet vermouth shines in traditional cocktails. Try mixing Punt e Mes into a Manhattan for a smooth and refined twist or blending it with equal parts gin and Campari for a delicious Negroni.
Kingston Negroni: This Jamaican twist on tradition blends equal parts Antica Formula, Smith & Cross, Rum and Campari. Stir the cocktail with ice, strain over one large cube, and garnish with an orange peel.
Carpano Spritz: If you’re looking for something lighter, add a splash of sparkling water or prosecco to Carpano for a refreshing, slightly bubbly take that’s perfect for a hot afternoon.
Feeling inspired? Here are some more must-try Italian cocktails
Appreciate Authentic Carpano on a Rome Tipsy Tour
See yourself bathed in the Roman sun, sipping on Camparo just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum? Join our Tipsy Tour of Rome for an evening of good drinks, good food, and great company.
Book your spot today, and let us show you why Italy’s aperitivo culture is worth toasting. 🥂
