295165 Tue Dec 02 18:20:57 -0800 2003 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1621029 We always have vermouth on hand for martinis- Cinzano is my boyfriend's favorite. But when I used some for cooking I thought It tasted like perfumed toilet paper. So I drank some on its own, and still I thought Yuck. Besides the common liquor store brands is there something better. I used to enjoy vermouth. Thanks Tue Dec 02 18:20:57 -0800 2003 0 Sarah 1 1621040 When recipes call for vermouth, they usually mean white French vermouth. Noilly Prat is the original brand, and probably the best for cooking. Tue Dec 02 18:58:14 -0800 2003 1621029 0 Kirk 2 1621237 Agree try Nouilly Prat. http://www.twochapstalking.com/dictarchive/000213.html Thu Dec 04 05:07:49 -0800 2003 1621040 0 jed 1 1621044 I recently bought a bottle of Vya vermouth (the sweet version). It is made by Andrew Quady (California) and is about $17. Delicious; so far I have only drunk it straight (as an aperitif). He also makes a dry vermouth. I can't think of a use for sweet vermouth in cooking -- I always used dry vermouth. I would keep it on hand to use in place of white wine (because it is 18% alcohol it does not spoil). I would use it when I needed just a splash of wine -- as in deglazing a pan. For larger quantities, such as wine-poaching chicken or fish, the herbs and spices in vermouth would predominate in the dish, so I would use white wine. I would assume the poster is using dry vermouth in Martinis. Although the higher alcohol guarantees that the vermouth will not turn into vinegar, long term storage of an opened bottle will cause it to lose some of its attractiveness. Try a fresh bottle. Tue Dec 02 19:13:18 -0800 2003 1621029 0 Joel Teller 2 1621083 I'm a big fan of Vya- have ordered it from wine.com before. Wed Dec 03 09:22:08 -0800 2003 1621044 0 Chris VR 3 1621374 Agreed Vya rocks, but I still haven't used much of either the bottle of dry or the bottle of sweet. Those things last forever. Fri Dec 05 13:05:01 -0800 2003 1621083 0 Dax 2 1621236 I like Vya. Junipero gin and Vya make one tasty Martini! Thu Dec 04 04:32:18 -0800 2003 1621044 0 Pinky