Adonis

What is Adonis?

The Adonis is one of the oldest documented sherry-based cocktails in American bar history, created in 1884 to celebrate the smash-hit Broadway musical Adonis, which ran for 603 performances at the Bijou Theatre in New York City and became the first show in Broadway history to surpass 500 performances. The cocktail was named after the show's main character, played by celebrated actor Henry E. Dixey, and emerged at a time when sherry-based cocktails were enormously popular in upscale American hotel bars. The original Adonis recipe of fino or amontillado sherry, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters was published in early American cocktail manuals and remains essentially unchanged from its 1884 formulation. The drink belongs to the broader family of low-alcohol fortified wine cocktails that defined late 19th century American aperitif culture, alongside the Bamboo (dry sherry, dry vermouth, and bitters), the Coronation, and the East India. The Adonis declined in popularity through the mid-20th century as sherry consumption fell globally and stronger spirit-forward cocktails came to dominate American bar culture. It has experienced a significant revival since the early 2010s through the craft cocktail movement's renewed interest in low-ABV aperitivo-style drinks and the broader rise of Spanish sherry as a cocktail ingredient.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Taste profile

The Adonis is one of the most genuinely sophisticated low-alcohol cocktails in the standard repertoire, with a balance that drinks like a refined aperitif rather than a typical cocktail. Dry sherry leads the palate with its distinctive complex character: nutty, slightly oxidative, with notes of almonds, dried fruit, and a clean saline minerality that no other wine or fortified spirit can replicate. Sweet vermouth contributes herbal botanicals and a measured sweetness that wraps around the sherry's drier character, adding depth and complexity that elevates the drink considerably beyond a simple sherry highball. Orange bitters provide the aromatic lift that ties the two main ingredients together: bright citrus oil with subtle herbal complexity that adds a finishing aromatic note on the nose. The overall flavour is dry, complex, lightly sweet, and aromatically layered, with a finish that lingers in a sophisticated, slightly nutty warmth. At around 73 calories per serving and approximately 12 to 14 percent ABV, the Adonis is one of the lowest-alcohol cocktails on this site and ideal for drinkers who want genuine cocktail complexity without significant alcohol impact.

Serving suggestions

Use a proper dry sherry rather than a sweet sherry: Tio Pepe Fino, La Gitana Manzanilla, or Lustau Amontillado all produce excellent results and each contributes a slightly different character to the finished drink. Fino and manzanilla produce a lighter, brighter Adonis with cleaner saline notes, while amontillado adds more nutty depth and golden complexity. Avoid cream sherry, Pedro Ximénez, or cooking sherry entirely, as these are too sweet and unsuitable for this cocktail. For sweet vermouth, choose a quality bottle such as Carpano Antica Formula, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, or Dolin Rouge: in a three-ingredient cocktail the vermouth quality is more visible than in spirit-forward drinks. Stir thoroughly in a mixing glass with plenty of ice for at least 25 to 30 seconds: the Adonis is a delicate cocktail and proper stirring is essential for the silky texture that defines its character. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with an orange peel twist expressed over the surface to release the citrus oils. Refrigerate any opened bottles of sherry and vermouth, as both ingredients oxidise quickly once opened and lose freshness within two to three weeks even when refrigerated. For a Reverse Adonis variation, increase the sherry to 1.5 ounces and reduce the vermouth to half an ounce for a drier, more sherry-forward result.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Adonis

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. In a mixing glass with ice cubes, add sweet vermouth, dry sherry, dry vermouth, and orange bitters.
2. Stir well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
3. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass, and garnish with a twist of orange peel for a touch of citrus aroma(optional).