The comparison that is not quite an alternative
Before going further, a straightforward note: Dolin Blanc and Schofield's English Dry Vermouth are not direct alternatives in the sense that one substitutes for the other. Dolin Blanc is a sweet white vermouth at 130g/l residual sugar; Schofield's is bone-dry. If you want a replace-for-like-for-like swap, you will not find it here. What this comparison does offer is something more interesting: two very different philosophies on what a white vermouth can be, and when you would reach for each.
Dolin Blanc, made by Maison Dolin in Chambery, France, is the original. The company has been making vermouth in the Alpine Savoie region since 1821, and the Blanc style (sweet, pale, aromatised without caramel colour) was invented here before Italian producers picked it up and called it Bianco. Schofield's, made by Asterley Bros in South London, is a much more recent creation: an English dry vermouth developed with bartenders Joe and Daniel Schofield, built on a base of English white wines, and weighted heavily toward floral botanicals. The comparison is really about two ends of the white vermouth spectrum rather than two candidates for the same slot.
Product-match table: how the specs compare
| Schofield's English Dry Vermouth | Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambery | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (UK, 500ml) | £26.95 | £13.91 to £25.60 (750ml) |
| ABV | 16% | 16% |
| Sweetness | Bone-dry | 130g/l residual sugar (sweet) |
| Botanicals | 28 (rose, camomile, jasmine, gentian, cardamom, lime leaf, rosemary, elderflower, lavender + more) | 32 alpine botanicals (wormwood, gentian, chamomile, citrus peel, hibiscus, basil, cinnamon + more) |
| Base | English white wines (blend) | Ugni Blanc wine |
| Origin | South London, UK | Chambery, Savoie, France |
| Heritage | Launched 2023 (collaboration with Joe and Daniel Schofield) | Since 1821; AOC-vermouth since 1932 |
| Style | Dry, floral, aromatic | Sweet, pale, alpine-herb, vanilla edge |
| Vegan | Yes (bentonite fining) | Not confirmed vegan |
| Format | 500ml | 750ml and 375ml |
How each is made and what goes into them
Schofield's English Dry Vermouth
Schofield's begins with a base of English white wines (a blend, as the product page states), brought up to vermouth strength and then aromatised with 28 botanicals. The signature floral notes are rose, camomile, jasmine and elderflower; the structural bitterness comes from gentian, cardamom and wormwood; and the citrus and herb backbone runs through lime leaf, rosemary, orange and thyme. The product page lists all 28 botanicals openly, which is consistent with Asterley Bros' stated transparency ethos across the range.
The collaboration with Joe and Daniel Schofield (the bartenders behind the Schofield Brothers brand) brought a professional-use perspective to the recipe. The result is a vermouth explicitly designed to work in a Martini or a spritz, and the finish reflects that: clean, bright and citrus-forward. The production uses bentonite (mineral clay) for clarification, which makes Schofield's vegan-friendly across the full Asterley range. It is bottled at 16% ABV in 500ml format.
Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambery
Dolin Blanc uses Ugni Blanc wine as its base: a grape variety common in the Alpine Savoie region above Chambery, fortified and aromatised. The botanical count is 32, drawn from the Alpine region: wormwood (the defining bittering agent in all vermouth), gentian root, chamomile, citrus peel, hibiscus, basil, cinnamon and others. The maceration uses real plants steeped in the base rather than botanical extracts: a traditional approach Dolin has maintained.
What distinguishes the Dolin Blanc style from a dry vermouth is the sweetening. It is brought to the same sugar level as the Dolin Rouge, but without caramelising the sugars first, which preserves the fresh, crisp character. The result has notes described as white cake, orange peel, flowers and cloves, with vanilla undertones carrying into the palate. The ABV sits at 16%.
Dolin Blanc is the original white vermouth. The company claims it first created and made the style famous in Chambery long before Italian producers adopted it under the name Bianco. The Maison Dolin brand was founded in 1821, and the Dolin Vermouth de Chambery is the only vermouth in the world to hold an Appellation d'Origine, awarded in 1932.
Price and availability
Schofield's English Dry Vermouth is priced at £26.95 for 500ml, available directly from asterleybros.com with free UK shipping over £60, and stocked at retailers including The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt.
Dolin Blanc retails in the UK from approximately £13.91 (Spiritly) to around £25.60 for a 750ml bottle, with wider distribution through wine and spirit specialists. Dolin has significantly more retail presence in the UK market simply by virtue of its age and distribution network.
For a buyer considering both, Schofield's commands a price premium per millilitre over many Dolin Blanc listings (the Dolin is sold in 750ml, Schofield's in 500ml), but Dolin Blanc also retails above £20 at a number of UK stockists, narrowing the gap at the premium end.
When to reach for Dolin Blanc
Dolin Blanc earns its place when the cocktail calls for sweetness and floral aromatics in equal measure. It was made for drinks like the Blanc Negroni, for a spritz with soda and a strawberry garnish, or as a substitute for sweet vermouth where you want a lighter, more alpine herb quality. The Dolin heritage and AOC status also make it a useful educational reference point: it represents what the original white vermouth style tastes like.
If you are stocking a bar and want a recognised, established sweet white vermouth that most cocktail enthusiasts will already know, Dolin Blanc is the safe and well-documented choice. It is consistently available, widely distributed, and its 130g/l sugar content makes it reliable for recipes that expect a specific sweetness level.
And on the honest point: Dolin Blanc wins on distribution and heritage hands-down. A venue in Hull or Edinburgh is far more likely to already carry Dolin Blanc than to have heard of Schofield's, and the 1821 founding date carries a category-authority weight that a 2023 launch simply cannot match yet. If brand recognition and ease of sourcing matter more than novelty or terroir story, Dolin Blanc is the straightforward choice.
When to reach for Schofield's
Schofield's is the choice when you want an English dry vermouth with clear British character. The English white wine base gives it a different flavour foundation to any French or Italian equivalent, and the floral botanical intensity (particularly the jasmine and rose) makes it a genuinely distinctive product. If you are making a Martini, a Vesper, or any serve that calls for a dry, aromatic vermouth, Schofield's was designed precisely for that purpose.
Working with the Schofields also brings bartender-grade credibility to the recipe. Joe and Daniel Schofield are established figures in the UK bar world, and their involvement means the recipe was stress-tested in professional conditions before it was released. For a venue that wants to tell a provenance story (English grapes, London production, recognised-bartender collaboration), Schofield's offers a compelling narrative that Dolin, for all its heritage, cannot match.
The vegan-friendly production is also a genuine differentiator as more venues look to plant-based options across their drinks range. And the transparency of the botanical list (all 28 are published on the product page) sets it apart from a category where most producers keep the recipe opaque.
A cocktail to try: The English Blanc Negroni
One way to see both products in action is to compare them side by side in the same cocktail structure. The Blanc Negroni is a natural fit for this comparison because it calls for a white (sweet or off-dry) vermouth alongside gin and Campari.
With Schofield's (dry): you get a bright, floral, citrus-forward interpretation. The jasmine and rose botanicals push through the gin and Campari bitterness, giving the drink an aromatic lift that a traditional red Negroni does not have. This is closer in spirit to a Dry Negroni or a Negroni Sbagliato variation.
With Dolin Blanc (sweet): the same format becomes richer and more perfumed. The vanilla and alpine herb notes integrate with the Campari sweetness, and the 130g/l residual sugar softens the overall structure. It is a more approachable, aperitivo-style serve.
Build both: 25ml gin, 25ml Campari, 25ml vermouth (Schofield's in one, Dolin Blanc in the other), stirred over ice for 60 seconds, served in a tumbler with ice and an orange zest. They will taste completely different, which is exactly the point of comparing them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dolin Blanc better than Schofield's English Dry Vermouth?
They are different styles, Dolin Blanc is sweet white vermouth and Schofield's is dry. There is no objective better between them. Dolin Blanc is the established reference for the white or bianco style; Schofield's is the best English dry vermouth available and is designed for entirely different serves.
What is the difference between Dolin Blanc and Schofield's?
The core difference is sweetness. Dolin Blanc has 130g/l residual sugar and is sweet; Schofield's is bone-dry. Beyond that, Dolin Blanc is made in Chambery, France with Alpine botanicals and Ugni Blanc base wine, Schofield's is made in South London with English white wines and 28 floral and bitter botanicals in collaboration with Joe and Daniel Schofield.
Which one should I use for a Negroni?
For a classic Negroni, you want a sweet vermouth, so Dolin Blanc fits that role well. Schofield's is better suited to a Martini, a Vesper, or a Negroni Sbagliato variation where its dry, floral character works with the sparkling wine component rather than as the sweet element.
Where can I buy Schofield's English Dry Vermouth?
Schofield's is available from asterleybros.com, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, and selected other UK retailers.
Where can I buy Dolin Blanc?
Dolin Blanc is available widely in the UK from wine and spirit specialists including Spiritly, The Champagne Company, purewhisky.co.uk and winestyle.co.uk. It is one of the most accessible French vermouths on the UK market.
How much does Dolin Blanc cost in the UK?
UK retail prices for Dolin Blanc 750ml range from approximately £13.91 to £25.60 depending on retailer. Schofield's retails at £26.95 for 500ml.
Try Schofield's English Dry Vermouth
Schofield's represents what Asterley Bros does best: taking a classical spirit category, grounding it in British terroir, and executing it with a clarity of purpose that stands apart from the established European names. If you are looking for a Dolin Blanc alternative that is dry, floral and unapologetically English, this is where to go.