12 Feb Cosmopolitan – Make it like a professional
The Cosmopolitan is one of the most recognized cocktails in the world. The Cosmopolitan recipe combines vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice a mix that’s ordered on bars in every corner of the world.
The story of the Cosmopolitan
The cocktail has for a long time, been one of the most popular cocktails in the world. Most well-known for its appearance in “Sex and the City”, the Cosmopolitans origin is somewhat still a mystery to this day.
Quite a few cocktails have been named Cosmopolitan, and it can be traced as far back as 1927. Some of the predecessors’ ingredients looks familiar to the new Cosmopolitan, but most people are of the opinion, that the story of the Cosmo, either started in the 1970’s or 1980’s.
In 1975 the bartender Neal Murray believes he made the modern Cosmopolitan by combining the cocktail Cape Codder (a cocktail with vodka and cranberry juice), with the shooter Kamikaze (a shaken shot with vodka, lime juice and triple sec). He shook these ingredients with ice, strained it in a coupette and the Cosmo was born.
One of other origin stories for the Cosmopolitan takes place in South Beach in 1988, where Cheryl Cook tried the newly released Absolut Citron Vodka. She tried shaking the Citron Vodka with cranberry juice, lime juice and triple sec.
Her use of the Absolut Citron Vodka makes her a worthy candidate as the maker of Cosmopolitan, because the International Bartenders Association’s list citron vodka in its official recipe. Still, it’s easy to imagine Cheryl Cook being inspired by Neal Murray’s recipe and trying it with citron vodka instead. It is therefore safe to say that both bartenders have a claim on the title as maker.
Fast forward to 1998 where the show Sex and the City started. The women are frequently seen drinking Cosmopolitans. Cosmopolitans fame skyrocketed with the show and quickly became a part of pop culture.
Choosing the ingredients
Vodka:
Although the original Cosmopolitan recipe uses citron vodka, we recommend using a classic, unflavored vodka for this recipe.
Your choice of vodka can reflect both budget and preference.
Żubrówka is a solid and affordable option. It has a clean profile that works well in cocktails, and it is by far one of the best choices in its price range.
42 Below sits comfortably in the mid-range category. It offers a slightly more refined texture while still being priced for regular cocktail use.
If you prefer a premium option, Grey Goose is a reliable choice. However, in a Cosmopolitan, the subtle nuances of higher-end vodka tend to be less noticeable due to the presence of cranberry and lime.
Whichever bottle you choose, use a good quality vodka.
Triple Sec:
The most well-known triple sec is Cointreau and will be the choice for most.
If you want a more complex Cosmopolitan, try switching the Cointreau with Grand Manier (an orange liquor with a cognac base). This will give the cocktail more power and a deeper flavor, which we recommend if you are a bit tired of the classic cosmo.
Lime juice:
Always use freshly squeezed lime juice, if possible, because lime juice loses its sharp flavor fast.
Cranberry juice:
Choose unsweetened cranberry juice for a more balanced cocktail. we recommend the brand Ocean Spray for the cocktail.
Simple sirup:
We recommend making all sirups homemade, because it allows you to control the flavors and ensures a cleaner result than most storebought sirups.
Garnish
When you cut your orange zest make sure you don’t have any albedo (the white layer before the flesh.) on the zest. This can give the cocktail a bitter taste and you only need the oils from the zest.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chill your coupe glass with ice or place it in a freezer. Remove the ice from the glass before serving.
- Cut the orange zest.
- Add vodka, cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup to a shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 8-12 seconds.
- Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Squeeze the oils out from the zest and place it as garnish.
Common Mistakes
What to Remember
- Keep it simple - Use fresh ingredients and quality spirits. Nothing more is needed.
Double strain the Cosmopolitan - It removes ice shards and gives a cleaner finish
- Chill the cocktail glass - A cocktail served without ice, it warms quicly. A chilled glass prevents that.
- Shake hard - If you don't shake hard enough, it won't turn the light pink color the cosmo is famous for.
FAQ
- Can i use regular vodka for the Cosmopolitan? - Yes. In fact, we recommend using a quality regular vodka for this recipe.
- What glass should I use for serving? - Serve the Cosmopolitan in a chilled martini og cocktail glass. It's always served straight up, without ice.
- Can I use a different orange liqueur than Cointreau? - Yes. Cointreau is the best choice, but other triple secs works well too. You can also use Grand Manier for a deeper flavor in the cocktial.
- What is the alcohol percentage of a Cosmopolitan? - The alcohol percentage in a Cosmopolitan typically ranges between 17 - 22 % ABV, depending on dilution and proportions.
- What gives the Cosmopolitan its pink color? - The pink hue comes from the cranberry juice turning light pink when shaken.
Other Recipes
Explore more classic cocktails below.
Carl-Ditlev is a bartender and co-founder of EOW Magazine, dedicated to keeping cocktails simple with quality spirits, fresh juice, and homemade syrups.
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