Vermouth is more than a cocktail ingredient: it’s a botanical wine with a rich history and complex flavours. Our masterclasses, held at our production space in South London, offer a hands-on way to learn how it is made and how to use it in cocktails. These sessions provide insight into crafting vermouth, understanding its botanicals, and enjoying classic aperitivo cocktails like the Negroni.
Key Details:
- Location: our production space at 5 Orchard Business Centre, South London, SE26 5AQ.
- Classes: Welcome to Vermouth, The Negroni Session (2 hours) and Introduction to Amaro (2 hours).
- Cost: £59.50 per person. Welcome to Vermouth includes a tasting of the full range, aperitivo cocktails and nibbles, and a bottle of English vermouth to take home (RRP £26.95). Gift vouchers are available.
- Activities: Taste the full range, enjoy aperitivo cocktails and nibbles, and go behind the scenes where our drinks are made.
- Availability: Welcome to Vermouth runs on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons; The Negroni Session on Thursdays, 18:30-20:30; Introduction to Amaro on Saturdays, 15:00-17:00.
Whether you’re a beginner or a hospitality professional, these masterclasses offer a deeper understanding of vermouth and how to use it confidently at home or work.
The ultimate guide to Vermouth with an Italian wine expert!
Common Misconceptions About Vermouth
Before diving into the details of our masterclasses, let’s clear up some common misunderstandings surrounding vermouth.
Many people think of vermouth as just a mixer: something casually added to a Negroni or Martini without much consideration. But this view misses its complexity. Vermouth is a fortified wine infused with a blend of botanicals, including herbs, roots, and spices, making it far more than just a cocktail ingredient.
Another misconception lies in its history and production. While vermouth has strong Italian origins, modern production has expanded to include a distinctly British approach. For instance, English vermouth often uses English wine bases and locally sourced botanicals, blending tradition with regional character. Our own ESTATE, for example, is made with English Pinot Noir from Gusbourne in Kent, and SCHOFIELD'S with a blend of English white wines.
The production process also tends to confuse people. Unlike mass-produced spirits, crafting vermouth is a detailed and time-intensive process: the botanicals for our ESTATE, for example, are macerated for 21 days at 75% ABV before blending. It involves carefully selecting botanicals and allowing them to infuse over time. Some even mistake vermouth for other botanical spirits like Amaro, though they serve entirely different roles within aperitivo culture. Clearing up these points helps set the stage for a deeper appreciation of vermouth.
English vermouth has carved out a strong identity of its own. For example, SCHOFIELD'S English Dry Vermouth won Gold and our ESTATE English Sweet Vermouth won Silver at the World Vermouth Awards 2021.
Understanding vermouth’s true nature matters because misconceptions can limit how people use and enjoy it. When seen as a complex botanical wine rather than just a mixer, vermouth opens up new possibilities for both home bartenders and professionals. Dispelling these myths ensures our guests can fully appreciate the craftsmanship and heritage highlighted in our masterclasses.
What Happens at Our Vermouth Masterclasses
Our masterclasses take place at our production space in South London. These sessions blend hands-on activities with guided tastings, giving you an insider’s view of the craft behind our vermouth and a look behind the scenes where it is made.
Your Welcome to Vermouth ticket (£59.50) covers a tasting of the full range, aperitivo cocktails and nibbles, and a bottle of our award-winning English vermouth to take home (RRP £26.95). Sessions run on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, making it easy to fit into your schedule. Here’s what makes the experience so engaging.
Learning Vermouth History and Production Methods
This part of the session introduces vermouth and how it is made. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at our production space, learning about the time-honoured techniques that go into making vermouth: we macerate our botanicals in spirit and blend them with wine.
Through this, you’ll see how the careful selection and infusion of botanicals set high-quality vermouth apart from mass-produced alternatives. It’s a chance to appreciate the artistry and effort that go into every bottle.
Understanding the Botanicals in English Vermouth
A key focus of the masterclass is exploring the botanicals that define English Vermouth. The team will guide you through the ingredients used in each product, explaining how different combinations create unique flavour profiles. You’ll learn how these botanicals interact with the wine base, enhancing the regional character of each vermouth.
This newfound knowledge becomes even more exciting during the tasting session, where you’ll experience how these flavours come together.
Guided Tastings and Food Pairings
The tasting covers the full range, including our ESTATE English Sweet Vermouth, SCHOFIELD'S English Dry Vermouth, and ASTERLEY ORIGINAL British Aperitivo, with nibbles alongside to showcase vermouth’s versatility.
You’ll also enjoy classic aperitivo cocktails (and at The Negroni Session you make and taste Negronis yourself), with practical tips to help you recreate these drinks at home. As Lisa Orpwood shared:
"Great afternoon workshop: very friendly, informative, lots of great tasting plus cocktails, nibbles and a bottle to take home. What's not to like?!"
This guided approach ensures you not only enjoy the tasting but also understand the interplay of flavours and why certain combinations work so well for different occasions.
Skills You'll Learn at the Masterclass
This session goes beyond just tasting vermouth: it’s about practical skills that you can use at home or in a professional setting. Asterley Bros was founded in 2014 by brothers Rob and Jim Berry, and our classes draw on what we have learned making vermouth, amaro and aperitivo in small batches in South London.
Making Aperitivo Cocktails
Ever wanted to make a Negroni like a pro? The Negroni Session (2 hours, Thursdays 18:30-20:30) has you make and taste Negronis. You’ll learn the art of precise measurements and stirring techniques to get just the right balance of dilution and temperature. These small details make all the difference in crafting consistently great cocktails.
Plus, you’ll leave with a bottle to take home: English vermouth (RRP £26.95) from Welcome to Vermouth, or ASTERLEY ORIGINAL from The Negroni Session, so you can recreate the drinks at home.
Pairing Vermouth with Food
Vermouth isn’t just for cocktails: it shines with food too. Through a guided tasting, you’ll explore how its herbal, bitter, and sweet notes pair with different nibbles. This isn’t just about the snacks served during the session; you’ll learn principles that help you match vermouth with a variety of dishes. It’s a skill that enhances your palate and opens up creative possibilities for pairing vermouth with meals in any setting.
Using Vermouth at Home and in Professional Settings
Whether you’re a home enthusiast or work in the hospitality industry, this masterclass is designed to boost your confidence and expertise. You’ll gain practical knowledge about vermouth’s production methods and botanical profiles, making it easier to explain its nuances to friends, guests, or customers. For professionals, this deeper understanding of vermouth, amaro and other botanical drinks can elevate your service and storytelling.
The skills are designed to be immediately useful, whether you’re building a home bar or refining your craft in a professional setting.
Vermouth's Role in Aperitivo Culture
Vermouth has long been the cornerstone of aperitivo culture, a tradition that traces its roots back to 1786 when Antonio Benedetto Carpano introduced the first commercial vermouth in Turin. This historical context adds depth to the practical skills explored in our masterclasses. The word "aperitivo" stems from the Latin aperire, meaning "to open", a nod to its traditional role of opening the appetite before a meal. This cherished ritual typically unfolds between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, marking the shift from work to leisure.
An authentic aperitivo is about more than just the drink: it’s the pairing of vermouth with stuzzichini like olives, nuts, or focaccia that completes the experience. The botanicals in vermouth are designed to complement and elevate the flavours of the accompanying food. As Rebecca Winke, an expert on Italian traditions, puts it:
Aperitivo hour embodies the essence of Italian culture... It exudes a la dolce vita spirit while celebrating the importance of human connection.
In the UK, this tradition has taken on a distinctly British twist. Our ESTATE, for example, includes hedgerow botanicals like milk thistle, English hops and yarrow, blending Italian origins with a uniquely British sense of place. At our masterclasses you taste the full range and discover how these ingredients shape each drink’s flavour.
The rising popularity of vermouth masterclasses reflects how aperitivo culture has evolved into something more than a pre-dinner drink. People are increasingly drawn to the stories, craftsmanship, and heritage behind their beverages. This shift has transformed aperitivo into a meaningful cultural ritual, where shared learning and appreciation bring people together. Our masterclasses embrace this tradition, turning each session into a celebration of vermouth’s rich legacy and its enduring role in connecting people.
Conclusion
Our Vermouth Masterclasses are designed to showcase vermouth's rich complexity: it's far more than just a cocktail ingredient; it's an aromatised wine with a fascinating history and refined character. Hosted at our South London production space, these sessions take you behind the scenes. You'll see how our vermouths are made and explore the distinctly British approach to crafting vermouth. At £59.50 per session, you'll enjoy a comprehensive vermouth experience.
During Welcome to Vermouth, you'll taste our entire range, including ESTATE English Sweet Vermouth and SCHOFIELD'S English Dry Vermouth, alongside aperitivo cocktails and nibbles. Each participant leaves with a bottle of our English vermouth (RRP £26.95), so you can continue experimenting at home.
Whether you're a seasoned vermouth and cocktail enthusiast or a complete novice, the masterclass is designed for you.
These sessions go beyond refining cocktail-making skills: they offer a deeper appreciation of vermouth's heritage and cultural significance, and show how aperitivo culture can seamlessly blend with British traditions, focusing on quality, connection, and the joy of shared experiences.
FAQs
Is the masterclass suitable for complete beginners?
Yes, this masterclass is ideal for complete beginners. It’s tailored to suit all experience levels, including those with absolutely no prior knowledge, offering an approachable and enjoyable way to get started with Vermouth.
What should I do with vermouth once I open it?
After opening vermouth, keep it in the fridge to preserve its flavour and aroma. For the best experience, aim to use it within 1–2 months.
Can I attend alone or with a group?
Yes, you can book a Vermouth Masterclass either individually or as part of a group. Both options are designed to fit your preference, and gift vouchers are available too.