Martini

The brand has been part of Bacardi Limited since a 1993 merger that united two family-owned drinks companies. The historic production site in Pessione remains in use and houses a museum dedicated to the history of winemaking, giving the brand an unusual depth of vermouth and aperitivo heritage that newer AF producers cannot draw on.

The AF range was built directly from the materials used in Martini's classic vermouths. The same quality wines are taken as the base, and the alcohol is then removed through vacuum distillation, a process carried out at reduced pressure that lowers the boiling point of alcohol and allows it to be separated from the wine without the high temperatures that would damage its aromatic character. Botanicals are then blended in: one product draws on Italian bergamot as its signature ingredient, whilst the other is built around Roman chamomile.

The two-product range is focused rather than broad, sitting within the AF botanical aperitivo category. One variant is widely stocked across mainstream supermarkets and specialist alcohol-free retailers; the other has a narrower retail footprint but remains available through online channels. Both sit in the premium bracket, consistent with the parent range. The 160-year aperitivo heritage and a documented production method give the range a verifiable provenance that most purpose-built AF aperitivo brands cannot match.