Ep. 137 The Original Opening Night Cocktail: Adonis

The Adonis is a late-19th-century, low-ABV sherry-and-vermouth aperitif, originally mixed to honor a record-breaking Broadway hit and quietly carried through the golden age of American hotel bars. In this episode, we follow the Adonis from the footlights to the backbar, using this seemingly simple drink to probe how aromatized wines reshaped ideas of pre-dinner drinking. Along the way, we play with the spectrum of sherry (subtly shifting between oloroso, amontillado, and fino) and watch how each choice bends the cocktail’s nutty, oxidative, and saline contours in unexpected ways.    Italian Adonis Ingredients  1.5 oz Fino or Manzanilla sherry  ¾ oz sweet vermouth  ½ oz Amaro Nonino  1 dash orange bitters  Optional: 1–2 drops saline  Stir well with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish: Wide orange peel or a thin lemon twist.  TIP: differences in Sherry    The Art of Drinking  IG: @theartofdrinkingpodcast     Jules  IG: @join_jules  TikTok: @join_jules   Website: joinjules.com    Brad   IG: @favorite_uncle_brad    This is a Redd Rock Music Podcast  IG: @reddrockmusic  www.reddrockmusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices