Affectionately known as the Cosmo and brought to fame by the TV show ‘Sex and the City' (who doesn’t want to be a little bit Carrie Bradshaw), the Cosmopolitan is a cocktail that is easy to order, easy to make and even easier to drink. Blending just the right amount of liquor with a mixer, you can be sipping on Cosmos all night long. But where does the Cosmopolitan come from? What is the original recipe? Let’s take a look and see where this iconic cocktail started its success.
The History of the Cosmopolitan
If you are looking for a cocktail with a dramatic backstory, then this is it! The war for the truth as to who invented this glorious cocktail is still ongoing, with three candidates in the ring. First up, Cheryl Cook who claims she created the first Cosmo in the 1980s. Stating she made this drink popular simply by using a martini glass, she claims to have shaken up the recipe to the Kamikaze cocktail, substituting lime juice for cranberry juice.
Next up, it’s New York bartender Toby Cecchini. He contests that when he tried Cook's version of the Cosmo, he thought it was too sweet and therefore added some lime juice, thereby creating what we know today to be the original Cosmopolitan recipe.
Finally, we have Meal Murray. He says that long before Cook thought of swapping out lime juice for cranberry juice, he was doing the same thing in 1975. According to Murray, one of his first test subjects exclaimed “how cosmopolitan” after drinking it and the name stuck. Whichever story you believe, we can probably all agree that we are just grateful that SOMEBODY invented the wonder that is the Cosmopolitan.
Cosmopolitan Recipes
The Original Cosmopolitan Recipe
Ingredients:
- 45 ml of lemon vodka
- 15ml triple sec
- 30 ml of cranberry juice
- 10 ml of lime juice
- ice
To garnish: a slice of orange zest or a lime wedge.
How to make your Cosmopolitan: take your cocktail shaker and add some ice. Place the ingredients into the shaker, adding the vodka last. Shake well for 30 seconds and pour the drink into a glass. To add the orange garnish, take the zest and heat it very carefully over a flame. This releases the oils inside the zest. Place it into the glass and enjoy. To add the lime wedge garnish, slice halfway into the lime segment and place it on the edge of the glass. The juices from the lime will accentuate the taste of the cosmopolitan as you drink it.
The Champagne Cosmopolitan Recipe
Ingredients:
- 45 ml of lemon vodka
- 15 ml of triple sec
- 30 ml of cranberry juice
- 10 ml of lime juice
- 10 ml of champagne
- ice
How to make your Champagne Cosmopolitan: as with the original recipe, add all of your ingredients (bar the champagne) into an ice filled shaker and mix. Pour the drink into a glass and add the champagne, stirring very gently as you add it. Garnish as desired.
The Tequila Cosmo Recipe
Ingredients:
- 45 ml good quality tequila
- 15 ml triple sec
- 30 ml cranberry juice
- 10ml lime juice
- ice
How to make your Tequila Cosmopolitan: add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake them well. Pour the drink into a glass and enjoy! This recipe calls for high-quality Tequila, so be sure to source only the best for your Cosmo.
So there you have it, three recipes to shake up your Cosmopolitan experience. But be careful, get too good at making Cosmos and your guests will never leave!
Read More:
- The Ultimate Daiquiri Recipes
- Shaken or Stirred, It’s a Vodka Martini for Us Please
Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Editorial Team
