Adonis 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.
You’ll find the Adonis sitting in that elegant, low-proof corner of cocktail culture where fortified wines do the heavy lifting. Built around sweet sherry and red vermouth with a flick of bitters, it reads like a softer, aromatised cousin to spirit-forward aperitif drinks, designed for lingering rather than rushing. Its appeal is timeless: complex, wine-led, and quietly sophisticated without needing a base spirit to make its point.
On the palate, sweet sherry brings rounded, raisiny richness that sets a plush foundation, while red vermouth layers in herbal sweetness and gentle bitterness. The vermouth’s botanicals sharpen the sherry’s sweetness, keeping it from feeling cloying, and a dash of orange bitters ties the two together with a bright, citrus-tinged snap. Expect a smooth, aromatic sip with a warming, spiced-fruit impression and a clean, bittersweet finish.
Serve this when you want something contemplative and easygoing—an aperitif before dinner, a long catch-up, or a weeknight wind-down. It suits you if you like vermouth-forward drinks, sherry’s mellow sweetness, or cocktails that feel grown-up without feeling heavy.
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:
Sweet sherry leads with raisiny, nutty richness that melds into the red vermouth’s herbal, winey sweetness, while a dash of orange bitters lifts the whole drink with a bright, peel-like snap. The pairing works because the vermouth’s botanicals add structure to the sherry’s roundness and the bitters keep it from feeling cloying, making it ideal for aperitif drinkers who want something mellow and aromatic.
Method
How to make a Adonis
- Sherry (sweet) 60ml, Red vermouth 30ml, Orange bitters Dash
-
- Add a shot of red vermouth, two shots of sweet sherry and a dash of orange bitters to a cocktail shaker
-
- Shake well and strain into a highball glass over ice and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Adonis 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
What is the history behind the Adonis cocktail?
The Adonis cocktail is a classic drink that has its origins in the late 19th century. It was named after the Broadway musical 'Adonis,' which was a hit in 1884. The cocktail is known for its low alcohol content and was originally created as a pre-dinner drink, or aperitif, to stimulate the appetite without being too intoxicating.
Why is sweet sherry used in the Adonis cocktail instead of dry sherry?
Sweet sherry is used in the Adonis cocktail to complement the bitterness of the orange bitters and the herbal, sweet notes of the red vermouth, creating a balanced, smooth, and slightly sweet profile. The richness of sweet sherry adds depth to the cocktail, making it more rounded and palatable as an aperitif.
What is the best way to serve an Adonis cocktail?
The best way to serve an Adonis cocktail is chilled, in a highball glass. It's essential to shake the ingredients with ice to properly chill and mix them, then strain into the glass. This enhances the flavors and the drinking experience, making it refreshing and enjoyable.
What food pairs well with the Adonis cocktail?
The Adonis cocktail, with its combination of sweet sherry, red vermouth, and a dash of orange bitters, pairs well with a variety of appetizers. Seafood dishes, especially those featuring shellfish, tapas, or light cheese and charcuterie boards complement its complexity and aperitif nature by not overpowering the cocktail's balanced flavors.
How does the alcohol content in the Adonis cocktail compare to other classic cocktails?
The Adonis cocktail has a relatively low alcohol content of approximately 17.33%, making it milder compared to many other classic cocktails. For instance, cocktails like the Martini and Manhattan have higher alcohol contents due to their base spirits being gin and whiskey, respectively. The Adonis is a more gentle option, making it suitable for occasions where lighter drinking is preferred.
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
Discover this bold twist on an espresso martini
After Midnight
Vodka, Coffee liqueur, Sherry (sweet), Red vermouth, Egg
Discover this rich fusion of sherry and vermouth
Dolores
White rum, Sherry (sweet), Red vermouth
Try this fruity cocktail with a sherry twist
Sherry Cobbler
Maraschino cherry liqueur, Sherry (sweet), Sherry (dry), Orange juice, Pineapple juice, Sugar / simple syrup
Indulge in this sophisticated tequila and sherry blend
Adonis' Chariot
Tequila reposado, Red vermouth, Sherry (sweet), Orange bitters
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