The vermouth encyclopedia

Vermutpedia

Rojo

Calamandrana

Red · Artisan · Medium-sweet

Oscar.697 Vermouth Rosso

Oscar.697

Calamandrana , Italia

Re-evaluation pending

How we calculate the Vermutpedia Score →

Overall impression

Vermutpedia is re-evaluating the Italian catalogue; the Vermutpedia Score for this entry remains pending until the new tasting round is complete. Oscar.697 Vermouth Rosso is the red expression of «The Contemporary Vermouth» in Calamandrana (Asti). According to oscar697.com, rhubarb with artemisia, liquorice instead of cinchona for better mixability, and natural caramel — not artificial — that brings sweetness and softens the alcohol. Trebbiano di Romagna base. 140 g/l sugar (EU legal minimum) and «Drier is better in mixology» philosophy. Difford's Guide: «Excellent, 4.5 stars out of 5» (2014). For Vermutpedia, it represents contemporary Piedmontese rosso designed for cocktailery: herbal-rhubarb profile, liquorice clarity and natural colour without industrial caramel.

Nose and palate

Rhubarb and artemisia on the nose; liquorice that «cleans» the palate better than cinchona, according to the house. Natural caramel softens the alcohol without excess sweetness. On the palate, semisweet balance with contained herbal bitterness and clean finish, designed for cocktailery. Compared with traditional Torinese rosso — denser, more spiced, more cinchona-forward — Oscar.697 Rosso is more direct, lighter and more mixology-oriented. The 140 g/l sugar sits at the disciplinare minimum, coherent with the brand's dry philosophy. Texture is round without cloying; bitterness is elegant. Liquorice brings clarity rather than the heavy quinine register of classic rosso. A rosso for palates seeking contemporary Piedmontese vermouth with Difford's excellent rating and Negroni-Manhattan versatility.

How to serve it

Oscar.697 declares that Rosso pairs with London Dry Gin, rum, mezcal and whisky (bourbon, rye and scotch): it reduces the spirit's alcohol and enhances aroma and bouquet. Ideal in Negroni, Manhattan or cold aperitif with large ice. At 4–6 °C the herbal-rhubarb profile expresses with clarity. In stirred cocktails, its semisweet balance and liquorice clarity bring structure without dominating gin or bitter. Solo with ice works for those who appreciate contemporary rosso outside the sweet-apéritif canon. For Vermutpedia, Rosso is cocktail vermouth with Piedmontese identity: rhubarb, liquorice, natural caramel, Calamandrana craftsmanship.

Production context

Made in Calamandrana with Trebbiano di Romagna, rhubarb, artemisia, liquorice and natural caramel. 16% vol., 140 g/l. Complements Bianco and Extra Dry in the Oscar.697 triad. 75 cl bottle at oscar697.com/vermouth-rosso. «Drier is better in mixology» philosophy; style inspired by historic Vermouth di Torino without IGP logo. International distribution via Italian Spirits Co. For Vermutpedia, Rosso synthesises author's contemporary Piedmontese red vermouth: unusual botanicals, natural caramel, mixology DNA verifiable at oscar697.com.

Discover more

More from Oscar.697

View all (3) →

More from Calamandrana

Same type and style — Red · Medium-sweet

Country guide

The best Italian vermouths

Birthplace of modern vermouth: we are re-evaluating the full Italian catalogue. Until the new scores are published, the table at the top remains empty.

View Italia ranking →