Is it possible to freeze vermouth? Can you do it?

Eventually, the skilled bartender will inquire, “Can liquor be frozen and securely kept in a freezer?”

The answer is dependent on the kind of freezer available and the type of liquor to be frozen.

Even when all the stars align, it is difficult to freeze liquor, and the answer is clear. Absolutely, this specific bottle of booze may be frozen.

The finished outcome is not guaranteed to be flawless.

In this post, I will explore the specific situation of vermouth and whether or not it can be frozen.

Can you freeze vermouth?

This is right, you can freeze vermouth. Most people’s freezers should be able to hold vermouth. If the vermouth does not freeze solid, it is usually because the freezer temperature is not low enough. Vermouth will easily cool and become slushy, but it will not freeze solid until it is below its freezing point. Moreover, since sugar decreases the freezing point, the sweeter the vermouth, the lower its freezing point. Using liquid nitrogen is the simplest and fastest technique to freeze vermouth.

Background information on freezing vermouth

At 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes. Pure ethanol (the sort of alcohol used in vermouth) freezes at -173 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a result, it is safe to expect that vermouth will freeze anywhere between 32F and -173F.

A Noilly Prat French vermouth bottle, for example, has an alcohol concentration of roughly 18% by volume and so freezes between 19F and 21F.

Most freezers can reach temperatures as low as 0.4F.

Even though the ordinary freezer is cold enough to freeze vermouth, I would not leave an ice tray of vermouth in your freezer.

The issue is that vermouth (and other beverages) may taste off when left exposed in a freezer.

Most individuals are oblivious to the fragrance of their refrigerators because cold air impairs the human sense of smell.

Yet, just because the ordinary person cannot detect the freezer’s scents does not imply they do not exist.

This is not to say that the smell and taste of exposed vermouth will be unaffected.

By the way, freezing vermouth in its bottle will not work since frozen vermouth expands.

Vermouth grows significantly more than the capacity of its containers can handle.

Unopened bottles of vermouth in the freezer result in broken bottles of vermouth.

The trick is to decant (or consume) roughly one-fifth of the bottle before freezing it.

Instead, freeze the vermouth cubes in an ice tray until the surfaces are frozen.

Following that, place the whole dish in a big Ziploc bag and freeze it for a few days, or until the vermouth is firm.

Sadly, freezing does not totally halt the oxidation of the vermouth.

When exposed to air, vermouth oxidizes, altering its delicate taste.

Use a vacuum sealer to prevent exposure since ice cubes have a big surface area.

To accomplish identical results without a vacuum sealer, a low-oxygen environment in a sealed Ziploc bag would be required.

To keep the vermouth cubes from melting, first decant them into a Ziploc bag then carefully drop the bag into the water as near to freezing as possible.

When more of the bag is submerged, continue to press the air out of it.

Push more of the bag beneath the water and expel additional air until just the zip is visible.

Zip the bag carefully, forcing the residual air towards the open corner, until it is entirely shut.

The vermouth cubes are now in a somewhat low-oxygen environment, which may help slow down further degradation.

Even if successful, there’s a problem using frozen vermouth

Of course, vermouth is one of the best mixers in the cocktail industry.

Since it will most likely be used in a combination, it is best to keep it out of the freezer.

One reason is that the temperature of the components in a drink should never be the same as the temperature of the ice in that drink.

If this is not the case, the ice will not melt as quickly as it should, and the drink will contain less water than planned.

Experienced cocktail producers intuitively know how much dilution is ideal in all of their favorite concoctions without even realizing it.

In addition, cooling may reduce the flavor and smells of a mixer.

Vermouth’s job in drinks is to provide scent. I usually store my vermouth in the fridge, and it always tastes fine.

I’ve discovered that vermouth stays in the fridge for approximately a fortnight. (To be honest, it doesn’t always make it to the finish of the run, if you get what I mean.)

While not everyone is a boozehound, if vermouth bottles tend to linger until their contents grow stale owing to a lack of drinking, consider purchasing smaller bottles.

Another approach is to try out fresh cocktail combinations. I love sweet vermouth with diet tonic water. Fill a third of a tall glass with sweet vermouth, then pour in the chilled diet tonic all the way to the top.

Another popular drink is vermouth on the rocks, which is made with carbonated water and a wedge of lemon or orange peel.

To be honest, it doesn’t do anything for me, but a surprising amount of ladies appear to like the drink.

Do home freezers freeze alcohol easily?

A home freezer linked to a refrigerator has an average temperature of 0.4F.

This temperature is cold enough to freeze food and ice but not cold enough to freeze an 80-proof bottle of vodka.

Chest freezers may reach even lower temperatures, and although 80% alcohol may freeze, 100% alcohol is exceedingly improbable to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions About Can You Freeze Vermouth

Afterword: Can you freeze vermouth?

I’ve successfully frozen vermouth bottles before with little trouble or problem.

I used to let the vermouth defrost spontaneously at first.

My frustration eventually boiled over, and I realized that I could give the bottle a thorough shake even when it was only half thawed.

This resulted in mushy vermouth, which was a terrific and inventive ingredient to many drinks after that.