Buzz
Having cocktail experts as friends comes with many perks. Not only are they fantastic hosts, but they also generously share inspiration and recipes for my column. They often point me to timeless cocktails I’ve somehow missed. This guidance is incredibly valuable.
Last week, I reached out to my friend Devojka, who hosts an exclusive cocktail party in Montreal, asking for some help with fresh cocktail ideas. She promptly sent me a detailed list of classics, including the Adonis—a blend of equal parts Fino Sherry and sweet vermouth. Recently, I’ve been on a Carpano Antica kick, so this one caught my attention.
If you're new to sherry, the Adonis is a fantastic starting point. With only two ingredients, it’s a great way to explore the almond-rich, straw-colored sherry and experiment with different ratios and brands. Devojka also highlighted that, "with so few ingredients, it’s a perfect chance to focus on the fundamentals, like techniques such as freezing a block of ice to chip rather than using regular refrigerator ice." The Adonis is traditionally stirred, but you can also try it served up, on a large ice cube, or built directly in a lowball glass. To make it, you will need:
1 1/2 ounces of Fino Sherry
1 1/2 ounces of sweet vermouth
2 dashes of orange bitters
Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, and stir for approximately 30 seconds. Strain into a lowball glass over a large ice cube, and garnish with a strip of lemon zest, ensuring you express the oils from the zest before placing it on the rim of the glass. (This technically increases your ingredient count to four, so feel free to skip it if that's not to your liking.)
