Adonis

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Cocktail History

The Adonis is a classic cocktail that was created at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York after the 1884 burlesque show of the same name hit the historic milestone of five hundred showings. Similar to another vintage recipe called the Bamboo, it’s traditionally made with sherry, vermouth, and orange bitters but calls for sweet vermouth instead of dry and uses different proportions.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Sherry: This is a type of wine made with white grapes, water, and yeast, which are fermented, fortified with brandy, and then aged to develop a range of flavors, from dry and crisp to rich and sweet.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with red grapes and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented and then fortified with a neutral spirit and sweetened to develop a rich, grape flavor.

Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.

Orange Peel: This the peel of an orange that is cut into a strip.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Brown orange color

• Aroma: Fortified wine

• Taste: Sweet vermouth flavor followed by crisp sherry and bright citrus

• Finish: Nutty wine aftertaste

Kendall’s Take: “I think sharing its name with the Greek god of beauty and desire does the Adonis good justice. Picture a Manhattan with sherry instead of rye, and you’ve got yourself this light and flavorful beverage—a great cocktail to sip on before a Broadway musical.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.