Adonis

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What Is the Adonis Cocktail?

The Adonis is an elegant, low-alcohol classic made from equal parts fino sherry and sweet vermouth with a couple of dashes of orange bitters, stirred until ice cold and served up with an orange peel. It looks like a Manhattan and drinks with similar sophistication, but because it contains no spirits at all, it is light enough to enjoy before dinner without dulling your appetite. The Adonis is the perfect introduction to sherry cocktails and a favorite among bartenders who love low-proof drinks.

A Brief History of the Adonis

The Adonis dates to 1880s New York, and it takes its name from a Broadway hit. Adonis, a burlesque musical starring Henry E. Dixey, opened in 1884 and became the first Broadway show to run for more than 500 performances. Bartenders of the era loved to name drinks after celebrities and popular shows, and the Adonis cocktail was created in its honor. The drink appeared in several turn-of-the-century bar books and was associated with the bar at the old Waldorf-Astoria hotel, which catered to New York's high society.

The Adonis belongs to a family of late 19th-century aperitif cocktails that paired fortified wines rather than spirits, reflecting a time when sherry and vermouth were enormously fashionable in American bars. Its closest relative is the Bamboo, which uses dry vermouth instead of sweet. Like many classics, the Adonis faded after Prohibition but was revived by the craft cocktail movement. More background is available on Wikipedia's Adonis cocktail page.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Adonis is a beautifully balanced drink. Fino sherry brings a dry, crisp, slightly saline character with notes of almond, green apple and fresh bread. Sweet vermouth adds body and richness, with flavors of vanilla, cherry, baking spice and bitter herbs. Orange bitters tie the two together with a bright citrus lift, and the expressed orange peel adds an aromatic finish. The result is lightly sweet, gently nutty and savory, with a silky texture and a long, dry finish.

At roughly half the strength of a typical stirred cocktail, it is easy to sip slowly. If you enjoy aperitifs like the Americano or the Chrysanthemum, you will feel right at home with the Adonis.

Understanding the Ingredients

Sherry is a fortified wine from the Jerez region of Andalusia in southern Spain. Fino is the driest and palest style, aged under a protective layer of yeast called flor, which gives it its distinctive saline, nutty taste. For a deeper look at sherry styles, see Wikipedia's sherry page. Many modern bartenders also use amontillado or palo cortado for a richer, nuttier Adonis.

The choice of sweet vermouth makes a big difference. Rich Italian vermouths add more spice and body, while lighter styles let the sherry shine. Because both sherry and vermouth are wines, they oxidize once opened. Store both in the refrigerator and use them within a few weeks for the freshest flavor.

How to Make the Perfect Adonis

Add one and a half ounces of fino sherry, one and a half ounces of sweet vermouth and two dashes of orange bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for about 20 seconds until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass. Express an orange peel over the surface of the drink to release its oils and drop it in as a garnish.

Because the Adonis is so delicate, temperature and dilution matter. Chill your glass in advance, use plenty of fresh ice and avoid shaking, which would cloud the drink and add too much water. Some bartenders adjust the ratio to two parts sherry and one part vermouth for a drier, more sherry-forward drink.

Popular Variations

The Adonis has inspired several riffs. The Bamboo swaps sweet vermouth for dry, creating a crisper, more austere drink. Using amontillado or oloroso sherry gives a deeper, nuttier Adonis with flavors of toffee and walnut. Adding a barspoon of maraschino or orange liqueur adds complexity, and a dash of Angostura bitters alongside the orange bitters adds warmth. If you enjoy stirred vermouth drinks, try the Martinez or the Negroni next.

How to Serve It

Serve the Adonis up in a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass, garnished with an orange twist. It can also be served on the rocks over a single large ice cube for a more casual, slowly evolving drink. For parties, it batches beautifully: combine the sherry, vermouth and bitters in a bottle with about 20 percent water and keep it in the freezer, ready to pour.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Adonis was designed as an aperitif, so it pairs best with salty, savory snacks served before a meal. Try it with Marcona almonds, green olives, aged Manchego, jamón ibérico, smoked fish or a simple cheese board. It also works well at brunch and is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a sophisticated cocktail with less alcohol. For more drinks to linger over, browse our sipping cocktails and our low-alcohol cocktails.

Why People Love the Adonis

The Adonis is proof that a cocktail does not need hard liquor to be complex and satisfying. It is elegant, balanced and steeped in Gilded Age history, yet perfectly suited to modern tastes for lower-alcohol drinking. With just three ingredients and a minute of stirring, you get a drink worthy of the finest hotel bar. For a modern bartender's recipe, see Punch's Adonis recipe.