Last Updated on July 23, 2024 by Leah Hall
Make this Adonis cocktail recipe for a great sipper with just three ingredients. A classic sherry cocktail!
The Adonis is made with equal parts sherry and sweet vermouth. This cocktail can pair well with tapas or savory bites. Great low alcohol sipper. Or, try banana infused sherry in this Peanut Butter drink!
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The Adonis Cocktail
The Adonis was named after the 1884 Broadway burlesque show by William Gill called Adonis, which is often credited as the first ever Broadway musical. While the show enjoyed its popularity, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City made a cocktail in its honor. They used a base of equal parts sherry and sweet vermouth. To this day it remains one of the most successful sherry based aperitif cocktails and still shows up on modern cocktail menus.
The Adonis cocktail has a smaller alcohol content than most cocktails, which can be a plus before a meal, more potent drinks can ruin your palate. The flavor of this Adonis cocktail is a tasty blend of the dry nuttiness of the sherry and bitterness of the vermouth.
Using two fortified wines together is unusual, and can really change the flavor up depending what brands you use. We did add some dashes of orange bitters in this, too.
What Sherry Should I Use?
A dry sherry like a fino sherry or manzanilla sherry is great in this cocktail. If you want a richer sherry without added sweetness, go with an Oloroso or Amontillado sherry. There is another classic, The Bamboo cocktail that is equal parts sherry and vermouth, as well as some aromatic and orange bitters. Very close, but still different, as it has a lemon twist instead of an orange peel.
Try sherry in this Tequila Smash cocktail, too!
What Vermouth Should I Use?
Pick a rich sweet vermouth like Contratto Vermouth Rosso, which is bright, fruity and wine like. Or even an Italian vermouth, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, which is bitter and has chocolate notes. Dolin Rouge is floral, and is also a great fit, and compliments the sherry well.
Make this cocktail in a mixing glass with ice cubes to chill the fortified wine, and try one of the great classic sherry cocktails.
If you are prepping to enjoy a good meal this summer, give this lighter aperitif a try as pre-dinner cocktails, and if you do, let us know what you think!
Cheers!
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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!
Other Low ABV Cocktails
- Shochu Negroni – Liquid Culture
- Campari and Soda – Drinking Hobby
- Sherry Cobbler – Sidewalk Shoes
Adonis Cocktail Recipe
This Adonis cocktail is a great low ABV cocktail for before a meal. Rich in flavor with the combo of sherry and sweet vermouth, this one is a fun sherry based cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1.50 ounce Sherry (Fino or Manzanilla)
- 1.50 ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Combine sherry, sweet vermouth and bitters in mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill, about 20 seconds.
- Strain into cocktail glass, garnish with orange peel.
- Cheers!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Carbohydrates: 1.7g
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