Sherry vs. Vermouth — What's the Difference?

Used in culinary dishes

Flavored with botanicals

Varies from dry to sweet

Aromatized fortified wine

A fortified Spanish wine

Essential in mixology

A solera-aged wine

Available in sweet or dry

A wine from Jerez

Often served as an aperitif

Sherry (Spanish: Jerez [xeˈɾeθ]) is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain. Sherry is produced in a variety of styles made primarily from the Palomino grape, ranging from light versions similar to white table wines, such as Manzanilla and fino, to darker and heavier versions that have been allowed to oxidise as they age in barrel, such as Amontillado and oloroso.

Vermouth (, UK also ) is an aromatized fortified wine, flavoured with various botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices) and sometimes colored. The modern versions of the beverage were first produced in the mid- to late 18th century in Turin, Italy.

A fortified Spanish wine ranging from very dry to sweet and from amber to brown.

A sweet or dry fortified wine flavored with aromatic herbs and used chiefly in mixed drinks.

A similar wine made elsewhere.

A dry, or sweet apéritif wine flavored with aromatic herbs, and often used in mixed drinks.

(uncountable) A fortified wine produced in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, or a similar wine produced elsewhere.

A serving of vermouth.

A variety of sherry.

Any of several white wines flavored with aromatic herbs; used as aperitifs or in mixed drinks

A glass of sherry.

A Spanish light-colored dry wine, made in Andalusia. As prepared for commerce it is colored a straw color or a deep amber by mixing with it cheap wine boiled down.

Dry to sweet amber wine from the Jerez region of southern Spain or similar wines produced elsewhere; usually drunk as an aperitif

Vermouth is used in Martini, Manhattan, Negroni, and many other classic cocktails.

Vermouth is a fortified and aromatized wine, typically used in cocktails, and can be sweet or dry.

Botanicals in vermouth can include herbs, spices, and bitter roots, but recipes are often proprietary.

Sherry is a fortified wine from the Jerez region of Spain with a range of styles from dry to sweet.

While both are fortified wines, their different flavor profiles may not always make them interchangeable in cocktails.

Yes, vermouth can be enjoyed on its own, often as an aperitif.

Yes, due to fortification, vermouth has a higher alcohol content than unfortified wine.

Sherry can be both, with styles like Fino being dry and others like Pedro Ximénez being very sweet.

Depending on the type, sherry can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Yes, after opening, vermouth should be refrigerated to maintain its flavor.

Dry vermouth is less sweet and more bitter, while sweet vermouth is richer and sweeter.

While there are cooking-specific sherries, many high-quality sherries are also enjoyed as a beverage.

This depends on the type of sherry; Fino and Manzanilla should be consumed quickly, while others can last longer.

Like all wines, sherry can oxidize and lose quality over time, especially after opening.

Sherry pairs well with a variety of foods, from almonds and olives to soups and seafood.