Adonis
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 13.5% ABV ∙
The Adonis is a stirred, low-ABV aperitif of fino sherry and sweet vermouth with a dash of orange bitters, often called the original sherry cocktail. Dry and nutty from the sherry, softened by the vermouth's raisined sweetness, with a bright citrus-bitters lift on the finish — an easy pre-dinner sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Fino sherry 80 mlRosso vermouth 40 mlOrange bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir with plenty of large cubes for 20-25 seconds only; the sherry-forward, lower-ABV build over-dilutes fast if stirred too long or too hard.
- Use fresh, chilled fino sherry and keep the bottle refrigerated after opening since it oxidizes within days and turns flat, dulling the drink's balance.
- Chill the coupe glass in the freezer beforehand so the drink stays cold longer without needing extra dilution from over-stirring.
- Express the lemon twist over the surface to release its oils, then rub the rim before dropping it in for aroma.
History
The Adonis takes its name from the 1884 Broadway burlesque musical Adonis, written by William Gill, which became the first American stage production to surpass 500 performances, running 603 times at the Bijou Theatre. The earliest known print reference to the cocktail appears in the "Pearls from Billy, the Bartender" column in New York's Sun newspaper on March 27, 1887, where a bartender serves three customers an "Adonis cocktail" without knowing what it actually is. The drink's connection to the musical was later explained by Albert Stevens Crockett in his 1931 book Old Waldorf Bar Days, which associates the cocktail with the Waldorf-Astoria's bar and credits its name to the show's fame, placing the cocktail's creation sometime between the 1887 print appearance and the show's original run, though Crockett's account is the only source for this dating. The first published recipe under the Adonis name appeared in Jacques Straub's 1913 Manual of Mixed Drinks, built from sherry, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters.
FAQ
How do you make an Adonis cocktail?
Stir fino sherry with sweet (rosso) vermouth and a couple of dashes of orange bitters over ice, then strain into a chilled coupe glass with a lemon twist. It's a two-to-one, sherry-forward build, so no shaking is needed since there's no citrus juice or egg to aerate.
What is the alcohol content of an Adonis?
This build comes in at about 13.5% ABV, noticeably lighter than most spirit-based cocktails since sherry and vermouth are both far lower proof than gin or whiskey. It makes the Adonis a good choice for an early aperitif rather than a nightcap.
What is the best sherry for an Adonis?
Fino sherry is the classic choice, and what this build uses, because its dry, saline crispness balances the vermouth's sweetness. A fuller amontillado can work for a nuttier, richer version, but fino keeps the drink at its intended light, dry style.
What does an Adonis taste like?
It leans dry and savory with a nutty, saline edge from the fino, rounded by the vermouth's raisin-like sweetness and a citrusy snap from the orange bitters. At roughly 13.5% ABV it drinks much lighter and drier than a Manhattan or Negroni, with a short, clean finish rather than a lingering boozy one.
What is the difference between an Adonis and a Bamboo cocktail?
A Bamboo swaps the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth, making it crisper and less sweet than the Adonis. Both are stirred, sherry-based, and low in alcohol, but the Adonis's rosso vermouth gives it a rounder, slightly sweeter profile.
