A classic Cosmopolitan cocktail. Photo courtesy Smirnoff.
August 2011
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Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe
The History & Original Recipe For The Cosmo
Introduction
According to CockailGuru.com, the Cosmopolitan is the second most popular cocktail in America, after the Mojito (and followed by the Mint Julep, Caipirinha, Long Island Iced Tea, Apple Martini, Mimosa, Bellini and Kir Royale).
The Top 10 list will vary by source, but there’s no doubt that the “Cosmo” will be a the top.
A Cosmopolitan cocktail is a cranberry Martini with added Triple Sec.
History Of The Cosmopolitan
First, the history of the cocktail. While mixed drinks are no doubt as old as fermentation of alcohol itself, he first printed citation of the word “cocktail” was in in the May, 1806 issue of an American magazine called “The Balance”:
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Cocktail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters -- it is vulgarly called bittered sling and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion. |
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As to the origin of the word: There are as almost many stories as people seeking them, including stories that far precede 1806. We won’t even try to go into them here, but if you’re curious, just put “cocktail origin” into a search engine window.
The history of the Cosmopolitan is a bit more precise. Made of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice, the Cosmo has two parents, as it were:
- The Cape Cod, made with vodka and cranberry juice and lime juice or a lime wedge. Given that Martinis sell better these days, the Cape Cod is now called a Cranberry Martini.
- The Kamikaze: vodka, triple sec and lemon juice.
But who invented it? According to the Ardent Spirits Newsletter of October 2006:
- Cheryl Cook, Bartender, The Strand, Miami. In 1985-1986, the Martini made a big splash comeback. Women were ordering Martinis just to hold the “in” classic Martini glass, even if they didn’t like Martinis. The bar’s rep from alcohol distributor Southern Wine and Spirits rep brought her a Absolut Citron, a new product (it would be launched nationally in 1988), and asked her to develop a drink. She made “something for the ladies” in a Martini glass: Absolut Citron, a splash of triple sec, a drop of Rose’s lime juice and just enough cranberry juice to make it “oh so pretty in pink.”
- John Caine, Bar Owner, San Francisco. In 1987, Caine served Cosmopolitans in his San Francisco bars.
- Toby Cecchini, Bartender, The Odeon, New York City. In 1987-1988, a coworker, Melissa Huffsmith, introduced Toby to a variation of Cheryl’s recipe made with regular vodka, Rose’s lime juice and grenadine. He tweaked it into today’s Cosmo, using Absolut Citron vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and cranberry juice—almost the same as Cheryl’s original but with fresh lime juice instead of Rose’s and Cointreau instead of generic triple sec. Most people prefer this “Cosmo 2.0”: The fresh lime juice adds a fresh flavor and a tart note, and Cointreau has a much richer flavor than triple sec.
Cosmo Tip: If you’re ordering a Cosmo at a bar or restaurant, ask if fresh-squeezed lime juice or Rose’s lime juice is used. If it’s the latter, order something else. In a Cosmo, the fresh lime juice makes a big difference.
Rose’s is lime juice concentrate sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. When it was patented in 1867, sugar was used as a preservative, so that lime juice could be preserved without the addition of alcohol. In the U.S., the sugar has long been replaced with HFCS. The ingredients include water, high fructose corn syrup, concentrated lime juice, sodium metabisulphite (a preservative) and Blue 1 (an artificial food color). In the U.K. and Canada, sugar is still used (HFCS is not popular with the regulators).
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Recipe
Unlike many of today’s Cosmo recipes, Toby Cecchini’s recipe is more tart than sweet. The sweetness of the Cointreau is balanced by the acidity of the lime and cranberry juices. Lower-end bars still use Rose’s lime juice instead of taking the time to muddle a fresh lime.
Ingredients Per Cocktail
*Toby’s original garnish was a coin-size orange slice, flamed.
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Absolut Citron inspired the creation of the Cosmopolitan Photo courtesy Absolut. |
Preparation
- Chill the Martini glass in the freezer.
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
- Add the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice.
- Shake thoroughly to chill.
- Strain into Martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon or orange peels.
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