Punt e Mes is a red vermouth made from white wine fortified with alcohol, herbs and sugar. The taste is both sweet and bitter.
It is made by the Carpano company in Turin, Italy.
If you make a Manhattan with Punt e Mes instead of another regular red vermouth, the drink is called a “Top Shelf Manhattan”, reputedly owing to the fact that Punt e Mes, being less called for, is kept on the top shelf at bars.
No Angostura bitters are needed when making a Manhattan with Punt e Mes.
Nutrition
Per 1 oz / 30 ml: 4.5g alcohol.
 |
|
Amount
|
| Calories | |
40
|
| Carbohydrate | |
4 g
|
History Notes
Punt e Mes was created by Antonio Carpano in 1786 at his shop in Piazza Castello, Turin.
Language Notes
The name “Punt e Mes” means “point and a half” in the dialect used in Turin. It refers to “a shot of bitter, and a half shot of sweet”, or in proper Italian, “un punto e mezzo.”