Adam Cocktail - Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Orange & Grenadine

The Adam Cocktail combines Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Juice, and Grenadine in a short shaken drink. The proportions are coherent: gin remains the base, vermouth contributes herbal sweetness, orange softens the structure, and grenadine stays small enough to add color and fruit without dominating.

Background

The Adam appears in older cocktail literature, but its exact origin and one definitive historical formula are not firmly established. It is safer to treat this as a vintage-style gin and vermouth cocktail rather than overstate a specific creator or publication history.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Gin - provides the botanical backbone.
• Sweet Vermouth - adds herbal sweetness and fortified-wine depth.
• Orange Juice - brings soft citrus, acidity, and body.
• Grenadine - contributes pomegranate-style sweetness and color.

A citrus-forward gin can brighten the drink. Blood orange juice gives a deeper fruit profile, while quality pomegranate grenadine keeps the sweetness more focused.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Strainer
• Coupe/Coupette Glass

Soft Citrus, Not a Sharp Sour

Orange juice is gentler than lemon or lime, so this drink reads rounder than a conventional sour. Sweet vermouth deepens that softness, while the gin and small grenadine measure keep the drink from becoming simple fruit juice.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use blood orange juice for a richer citrus note.
• Add a dash of orange bitters for more aromatic structure.
• Use a drier sweet vermouth for a leaner finish.
• Reduce grenadine slightly if your orange juice is especially sweet.

Helpful Tips

• Use fresh Orange Juice.
• Refrigerate opened Sweet Vermouth.
• Chill the serving glass before shaking.
• Shake until thoroughly chilled and diluted.
• Express an orange peel over the surface for extra aroma.