Sweet Poison Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Sweet Poison sits in the bright, spirit-forward corner of the cocktail spectrum, pairing gin with orange liqueur and a touch of fortified wine for a short, aromatic serve in a cocktail glass. It doesn’t have a widely documented “classic” backstory, so you can treat it as a modern, name-led number: a compact, after-dark sipper that leans on familiar bar staples to deliver something both playful and a little dangerous.
You’ll find the gin’s crisp botanicals set the backbone, while Cointreau brings a clean orange sweetness that softens the edges and lifts the aroma. Sweet sherry adds a rounded, winey richness that deepens the mid-palate and makes the drink feel more plush than a straight gin-and-orange build. A dash of grenadine tints the whole thing with a gentle pomegranate-like sweetness, nudging the finish toward smooth and slightly candyed without overwhelming the citrus.
Serve it when you want a small, elegant cocktail that reads “treat” rather than “refreshment” — ideal as a pre-dinner aperitif for sweet-toothed gin fans, or as a late-evening pour when you’re in the mood for something polished, fragrant, and just a touch indulgent.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
.svg){kind=icon}
Cocktail Colin says:
Gin leads with crisp botanicals wrapped in Cointreau’s bright orange sweetness, while sweet sherry adds a rounded, raisiny depth and a dash of grenadine brings a brief pomegranate-cherry flash that lingers on the finish. The orange liqueur bridges gin and sherry so the drink stays cohesive and aromatic, and it’ll suit drinkers who like short, spirit-forward sippers with a sweet-citrus edge.
Method
How to make a Sweet Poison
- Gin 10ml, Cointreau 20ml, Sherry (sweet) 10ml, Grenadine Dash
-
- In a cocktail glass, pour in Cointreau, gin, sweet sherry and a dash of grenadine
-
- Stir and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Sweet Poison with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Why is Sweet Poison stirred and not shaken?
Sweet Poison is stirred rather than shaken to prevent over-dilution and to maintain the clarity and integrity of the ingredients. Stirring gently combines the Cointreau, gin, grenadine, and sweet sherry, ensuring a smooth and balanced flavor profile without introducing air bubbles, which could lead to a cloudier appearance.
How does the alcohol content of Sweet Poison compare to other classic cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 34.5%, Sweet Poison falls into the stronger category of cocktails compared to classics like the Margarita (around 26% alcohol by volume, ABV) and the Mojito (approximately 20% ABV). It's closer in strength to drinks like a Martini or Manhattan, making it suitable for those who prefer a stiffer drink.
What is the best way to serve Sweet Poison to enhance its flavors?
Sweet Poison is best served in a chilled cocktail glass to keep it cold and enhance its flavors. The cool temperature is crucial for enjoying the layered complexity of the Cointreau, gin, grenadine, and sweet sherry. Garnishing with a twist of orange peel can add an aromatic zest that complements the sweet and citrus notes of the drink.
Can I substitute any ingredients in Sweet Poison if I don't have them all?
Yes, you can make substitutions in Sweet Poison while maintaining its character. If you're out of Cointreau, Triple Sec or another orange liqueur could work. No sweet sherry? A similar sweet fortified wine like port could provide the desired sweetness and depth. For grenadine, a homemade pomegranate syrup can be a delightful alternative.
What occasions are most suitable for serving Sweet Poison?
Sweet Poison, with its strong alcohol content and bold flavors, is perfect for intimate gatherings or as a dinner party apéritif. Its sophisticated profile makes it suitable for celebrations or any occasion where you want to impress your guests with a unique and potent cocktail choice.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Try this rich, aromatic coffee-infused Negroni.
Coffee Negroni
Gin, Campari, Red vermouth
Taste this vibrant mix of gin, absinthe, and orange.
Monkey Gland
Absinthe, Gin, Orange juice, Grenadine
Indulge in this well-balanced martini with olives.
The Perfect Martini
Gin, Red vermouth, Olive juice
Enjoy this bold balance of gin and Campari
Negroni
Gin, Campari, Red vermouth
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we'll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we'll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments