Vermouths and bitters shine at the IWSC

The international drinks trade is constantly seeking new areas of growth, and few categories have shown such sustained momentum as vermouths and bitters. Once seen as a niche choice for cocktail aficionados, these aromatic, versatile drinks are moving steadily into the spotlight, propelled by consumer interest in aperitif culture, lower-alcohol options and authentic heritage products. This year’s IWSC results shine a bright light on these categories, offering compelling evidence of both quality and innovation across global markets.

The results, drawn from producers across nineteen countries in total, underline just how far these products now travel. Vermouths alone were entered from nine different countries and collected 44 medals, while the two bitters categories together accounted for 35 medals across five countries each. The level of competition was intense, yet the panel of judges consistently remarked on the standards, with several noting that they had never before tasted such depth of character in these classes.

Vermouth: diversity and a blossoming identity

Perhaps the most striking story of this year’s competition lies in the vermouth entries. Across dry, extra-dry and sweet styles, the panel awarded six Gold medals, twenty-one Silver and seventeen Bronze, a total of forty-four. That spread speaks volumes: a large pool of Silver medals suggests consistency and depth of quality, while the Gold awards demonstrate that certain producers are pushing boundaries and standing out as benchmarks for the category.

Sarah Jane Eichler, one of the judges, described vermouth as “starting to really blossom with some unusual flavours.” Federico Manganaro was equally impressed, highlighting that “the red vermouth all performed very well. There was a good consistency of quality among all the samples.” Tim Blake also noted the strength of the red vermouth entries, reinforcing the sense that innovation in this colour spectrum is particularly strong.

Among the Gold medal winners were61 Vermouth Tempranillo Dry NV from Bodega Cuatro Rayas in Spain, Berto Vermouth Di Torino Bianco from Italy’s Antica Distilleria Quaglia, and La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Sweet NV from Maison Villevert in France. Each of these highlights a different facet of modern vermouth: Spanish producers showcasing native grape varietals, Italian houses continuing their proud tradition, and French innovators marrying heritage with contemporary style. Vermuts Miró of Spain also made a strong impression with two Gold medals, while Mancino Vermouth, representing the United Kingdom, collected Gold for its Chinato Vermouth.

Samuel Boulton, another judge, captured the spirit of the category well: “We tasted a lot of contemporary Vermouth, I really loved this category and feel it has a place but we need to challenge the perception that only traditional vermouth is quality.” That sense of vibrancy and possibility will resonate with buyers seeking products that both honour tradition and spark new consumer interest.

Aperitif bitters: consistency with a rising star

Bitters intended for aperitif drinking also performed impressively, winning a total of 17 medals: eleven Silver, three Gold, two Bronze and one Gold Outstanding. Entries came from five countries, including Australia, Belgium, Italy and the UK, signalling a global spread of expertise in this style.

Christian Maspes, who judged the early flights, remarked: “I was impressed during the first few flights especially with the light bitter aperitifs.” That appreciation was borne out by the medals. The standout was Alternativo Aperitivo from Ester Distilling in Australia, which was recognised with a Gold Outstanding award, the highest honour available and a clear marker of exceptional craftsmanship. Its success demonstrates that innovative producers outside Europe are not only engaging with the aperitif tradition but excelling at it.

The strength in Silvers, however, is equally significant. With eleven products hitting this level, there is a clear breadth of quality across the field. For the trade, that suggests a pool of reliable, well-crafted options that can be introduced confidently into cocktail programmes, aperitif serves and retail spaces. Aperitif bitters are proving themselves not just as interesting novelties but as solid, dependable products with global relevance

Digestif bitters: depth and high performance

The digestif bitters category produced a particularly strong showing. With 18 medals awarded, the distribution was impressive: six Gold, eight Silver, three Bronze and one Gold Outstanding. Again, producers from five different countries were represented, underlining the universal resonance of this style.

Judge Adamo Varbaro summed it up clearly, saying that the bitter digestifs he tasted “performed particularly well.” Charlie McCarthy was even more specific, commenting on one flight: “Flight 14 had several outstanding Bitters-Digestive amaro style spirits, with 14-9 in particular exhibiting exception drive, development and complexity.”

The Gold Outstanding went to Fernet Imperio from Arcombe in Argentina, a striking example of how far amaro culture has travelled and how deeply it is being interpreted outside its Italian homeland. This success story for Argentina is emblematic of the wider trend: digestif bitters are no longer confined to traditional markets, but are flourishing globally, often in creative and original interpretations.

A category with confidence

Taken together, the vermouth and bitters results illustrate a category with growing confidence and global appeal. Vermouth has consolidated its position as a serious field of quality production, moving beyond its historic associations to become a platform for innovation. Aperitif bitters are broadening the horizons of what can be expected from lighter, lower-alcohol drinks, capturing consumer interest with both consistency and occasional brilliance. Digestif bitters are delivering real depth of performance, with several judges commenting on their strength at the top level.

For businesses in the trade, these results offer a roadmap. Vermouths with international Gold recognition are natural centrepieces for wine and spirit merchants and can anchor cocktail lists with heritage and story-telling. Aperitif bitters, particularly those delivering Silver and above, represent an opportunity to tap into the ongoing trend for lower-alcohol drinking and aperitif culture, ideal for by-the-glass serves and menu innovation. Digestif bitters, meanwhile, provide both a premium after-dinner option and a chance to align with the current enthusiasm for amaro-style drinks, appealing to consumers seeking complexity and authenticity.

The IWSC has always been a showcase for excellence, but in this year’s vermouth and bitters results there is a particular energy. As Federico Manganaro observed, consistency across the vermouth entries suggests a maturing field, while the presence of standout aperitifs and digestifs demonstrates that innovation is alive and well. With producers across Europe, South America and Australasia all represented among the winners, this is a category that no longer belongs to one tradition or region. It is a global movement, and one that shows no sign of slowing down.

Discover the top-scoring vermouth and bitters below, and head to our results page to see the full breakdown.  

Vermouth 

Bitters