The Cosmopolitan is like a pop song. It was wildly popular for a brief time and became ubiquitous to the point of annoyance. Then one day it became considered cheesy and overdone, an embarrassing thing to like. It’s the Macarena of the cocktail world.
Well, we’re in a period where everyone seems to crave nostalgia, and I don’t doubt that the Macarena is being played a bit more often these days – perhaps even without the usual hefty dose of irony. I mean, I heard “Oops I Did it Again” on the radio three times this week. And it was released in 2000, the year after the Cosmo made its big debut on Sex and the City and became the it-cocktail of the era. It’s actually a prime time for the Cosmopolitan to make a comeback.
I also think the importance of the Cosmopolitan to the craft cocktail world shouldn’t be understated. In a dark age of cocktails, it was something new and fresh. It reminded us that there are still great drinks out there to be made, still things we haven’t tasted. And the Cosmo also made it very clear that presentation matters. Small touches matter. That’s why thousands of people opted for the pink drink in the pretty glass with the dash of Cointreau instead of their usual vodka cranberry.
Does this mean I’m frequently mixing up Cosmos for myself at home? No. If I’m being honest, it’s not my drink. There’s just not enough to it for me – I will always prefer a more flavorful spirit like gin or rum over vodka. But I think it deserves a place in my blog archives, and I will happily whip one up on request. And if you like them, don’t be embarrassed.
History: I was quite surprised to discover that the Cosmopolitan’s origins are as murky as you might expect from a 200-year-old classic, not a drink invented in the 90’s. It’s a problem of too much information rather than not enough. Multiple people take credit for the recipe or claim to know when and by whom it was invented. And that may be because it was actually created more than once. Cheryl Charming has written a ridiculously detailed article on the Cosmo’s history in which she researches all the various claims in-depth – a worthy read if you’re an avid cocktail historian. No doubt some people will disagree with her conclusions, but the impressive amount of research and journalism she has done on the subject makes me feel that she is the most reliable source I’ve encountered. So below I will sum up her conclusions.
The Cosmopolitan is a variation of the Kamikaze shot, which is made with vodka, lime juice, and triple sec. It appears to have been invented twice independently by two different people who named it the same thing. This does seem rather improbable, but stranger things have happened.
The first inventor is Neal Murray. Around 1975 he was working at the Cork ‘n Cleaver Steakhouse in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He made his fair share of Kamikaze shots, and decided to combine the Kamikaze with the Cape Cod (vodka, cranberry juice, and a lime wedge). One of his regulars asked about the drink and Murray replied, “I just thought it needed a little color.” This was a joke, as Murray was black and was almost not hired because of it. His regular responded, “How cosmopolitan!” Murray would tell bartenders how to make the drink whenever he traveled, helping the recipe spread.
The second inventor is Cheryl Cook, who tended bar in South Beach, Florida. In March of 1989, Cosmopolitan magazine had just come out with an issue that contained an article on female Maître D’s, and it featured one of Cook’s coworkers. The cover of the issue was bright pink. Absolut had also just released their Citron vodka, and Cook had a bottle to play with. She made a variation on the Kamikaze with cranberry juice to make it pink like the cover of the magazine. The drink was so popular that the bottle of Absolut ran dry that evening, and the recipe spread to other bars in South Beach and beyond.
Could both tales be true? I’d like to think so, and Charming certainly does. There is ample evidence to support both.
So, on to the drink! There are a lot of Cosmo recipes out there, and they vary not only in the proportions of the ingredients but the ingredients themselves (regular vodka vs. Citron, triple sec vs. Cointreau, Rose’s lime juice vs. fresh). I tested several versions and decided I liked the one below the best. Feel free to tweak it until it’s perfect for you.
Cosmopolitan
1.5 oz. Absolut Citron
3/4 oz. triple sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
3/4 oz. lime juice
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
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