Cocktails

Opening Cocktail

Opening Cocktail is an alcoholic cocktail built on Sweet Vermouth. It leans spice, sweet and herbal. Stirred and served in a Cocktail Glass. Expect about 20.5% ABV and roughly 390 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic20.5% ABV3 ingredients

At a Glance

390 kcalCalories

20.5%ABV

42.9gSugar

45.3gCarbs

2.05Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 3 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

2.0 ozGrenadineSweetener
2.0 ozSweet VermouthFortified Wine
2.0 ozBlended whiskeyBase Spirit

How to Make It

Stir with ice and strain into cocktail glass.Stirred

How to Serve

Glass: Cocktail Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice
Method: Stirred

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Spice Sweet Herbal

Supporting notes

Oak Red Fruit Vanilla Aromatic

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

Noticeably sweet

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

BBQ / CookoutSuggested from its oak notes, pairing with bbq and grilled meat.
Winter / CozySuggested from its spice notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

BBQ Steak Grilled Meat

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Grenadine2.0 oz

Fresh GrenadineGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Fresh grenadine is usually a close substitute for grenadine.

Pomegranate SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes: Pomegranate syrup can replace grenadine when a more pomegranate-forward flavor is acceptable.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Sweet Vermouth2.0 oz

Rosso VermouthGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount; adjust only for the specific bottle’s sweetness and bitterness.
What changes: Rosso vermouth is a sweet red vermouth and is usually a close replacement for a generic sweet vermouth.

Dry VermouthNot a neutral swap

How much to use: You may need a small sweetener adjustment if the drink loses balance.
What changes: Dry vermouth is not a neutral substitute for sweet vermouth; it makes the drink much drier.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated June 18, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is an Opening Cocktail?: The Opening Cocktail is a cocktail made with 3 ingredients, traditionally served in a Cocktail Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 20.5%. A standard serving contains approximately 390 calories.
What does an Opening Cocktail taste like?: Opening Cocktail has a flavour profile featuring Spice, Sweet, Herbal, Oak. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with an Opening Cocktail?: Opening Cocktail pairs well with BBQ, Steak, Grilled Meat. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is an Opening Cocktail?: The Opening Cocktail has an ABV of approximately 20.5%. That's approximately 2.05 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 390 kcal, 42.9g sugar, 45.3g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is an Opening Cocktail typically served?: Opening Cocktail is often suggested for BBQ / Cookout, Winter / Cozy, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to an Opening Cocktail?: If you enjoy Opening Cocktail, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make an Opening Cocktail at home?: Yes. The Opening Cocktail uses 3 ingredients, making it easy to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of Opening Cocktail with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.