Dry sherry is a sweet wine that has become a staple at holiday meals around the globe. While it tastes great, it also contains high levels of alcohol. If you want to enjoy the same taste without the buzz, try these dry sherry alternatives instead.
Sherry is a fortified wine produced from fermented grapes or other fruits. The name comes from the region where it was originally produced, Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.
Sherries come in three main styles: fino (lightest), amontillado (medium), and oloroso (darkest).
There are several types of dry sherry, each with its own unique flavor profile. Dry sherries are typically aged for anywhere between 12 months and 20 years before being bottled.
There are two basic categories: finos and manzanillas. Fino sherries tend to be lighter-bodied and sweeter, whereas manzanilla sherries are darker and richer.
Best Dry Sherry Substitute
The best way to find out what you like is to try it. If you’re looking for something that tastes similar to sherry, you might want to start there.
You’ll probably notice that most sherry substitutes are fortified wines—and that’s because the main difference between sherry and fortified wine is the amount of alcohol added.
Fortified wine is just slightly less alcoholic than regular wine, while sherry is much lower in alcohol.
A good place to look for a sherry substitute is online. There are plenty of resources for finding the perfect wine pairing, but if you’re looking for a sherry substitute, you won’t find many options.
Most people think of sherry as being sweet, but it isn’t. In fact, some sherries are very dry, and others are even semi-sweet. You may have seen sherry used as a dessert wine, but it can actually go well with food too.
1. Dry Vermouth
A classic cocktail requires just three ingredients: gin, sugar syrup, and dry vermouth.
Dry vermouth is used because it doesn’t add sweetness to cocktails; it helps balance out the bitterness of the gin. In fact, some people say that dry vermouth is the best part of a martini!
But there are many types of dry vermouth, each with its own flavor profile. Here are six great options:
- Beefeater 24-Year-Old London Dry Vermouth
- Hendrick’s Gin Dry Vermouth
- Tanqueray 10-Year-Old Dry Vermouth
- Punt e Mes Dry Vermouth
- Plymouth Gin Dry Vermouth
- Bénédictine Grande Dame de Montmartre Dry Vermouth
If you’re looking for substitutes for simple syrup, consider trying one of these options to add a touch of sweetness to your cocktails.
2. White Wine Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Or Sherry Vinegar
Need a non-alcoholic alternative to dry sherry? Cooking vinegar is a great choice because they’re already acidic enough to cut through foods without adding extra acidity.
They’re also inexpensive and easy to find. And since you’ll use less vinegar than regular sherry, you won’t have to worry about it overpowering food flavors.
White Wine Vinegar – This is the most common type of vinegar used in cooking. You can buy it in the grocery store next to the balsamic varieties.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is very tart, but it does add a nice flavor to dishes like salad dressings.
Sherry Vinegar – Sherry vinegar (see also ‘4 Sherry Vinegar Substitutes‘) is similar to balsamic vinegar, but it’s much milder. It adds a unique flavor that makes it perfect for marinades and sauces.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been drinking sherry all your life, then you know how amazing it tastes. But if you’re new to this drink, don’t let the name fool you.
Sherry is not only delicious, but it’s also versatile. Try using it in recipes instead of other types of wine, and see what happens.
Dry Sherry Substitutes
Dry Sherry is a wonderful wine to enjoy any time of year, but what do you do if you don’t have any to hand or would prefer something similar? Stick around to find out!
Ingredients
Dry Vermouth
White Wine Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Sherry Vinegar
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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