When you’re looking for a light and tasty pre-dinner cocktail, it’s hard to beat the easy-drinking Adonis. Comprised of just three ingredients—oloroso sherry, vermouth and bitters—the Adonis is simple to make, should you be playing home bartender for the evening. And if you’re frequenting the type of establishment that would carry such ingredients, then you’re just a quick request away from enjoying this appetite-whetting aperitif.
First created in the mid-to-late 1880s, the Adonis was named for the Broadway musical of the same name, which ran for 603 consecutive appearances, a record at the time. So while this classic doesn’t get the mainstream attention of some other drinks from that era, it’s stood the test of time as a well-balanced cocktail that’s worthy of our attention. Now, let’s break down what we’re working with.
What is Oloroso Sherry?
Sherry itself is a fortified wine made from white grapes hailing from the Spanish town of Jerez. Oloroso Sherry is a variety of said wine that is fortified at an earlier stage of the production process, which suppresses some of the yeast. This results in more air exposure and oxidative aging—which in layman’s terms means a sherry that is darker, stronger and less yeasty tasting than fino and amontillado sherries.
What is Vermouth?
Like sherry, vermouth is also a fortified wine, but one known as an “aromatized wine,” which is characterized by its use of various flavoring botanicals. These botanicals often include plants, roots, herbs and spices. Unfortunately, vermouth—especially dry vermouth—is regularly demonized by Martini drinkers who skip it entirely or claim to merely glance at the bottle before mixing up some cold gin. In reality, vermouth is delicious, and it’s likely that the unconverted simply haven’t had the pleasure of drinking a good one.
In this case, we’re using sweet vermouth, which enjoys a slightly better reputation, likely because of its appearance in the popular Manhattan. Some of the better options include Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Dolin Rouge and Carpano Antica. Any of those three will impart your Adonis cocktail with an herbal, bittersweet richness.
One important note: unlike liquor, vermouth should always be kept in the fridge once opened, and after about a month, it’s time to pour out whatever remains, as it begins to change for the worse.
And How about Bitters?
Bitters are a blend of botanicals with a solvent like water or alcohol, which extracts the flavors of those botanicals. They are a chief component in the classic cocktail formula of spirit, sugar, water and bitters, and can be found in a variety of popular drinks, from the Old-Fashioned to the Manhattan.
The Adonis calls for orange bitters. In this case, your primary botanical is orange peels, but even orange bitters will usually include several other ingredients like cloves, gentian or cinchona bark.
The Result
All of the above combine to make a delightful drink. The two fortified wines create a rich synergy that is accented by the orange and spice notes of those bitters. And while the Adonis is low in alcohol, it’s never lacking for flavor.
Get the Adonis Cocktail Recipe
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
