Cosmopolitan

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.

Sparkling Cosmo

The Cosmopolitan has gotten a bit of a bad rap over the last few years. And I guess at first blush, it might seem deserved. It's made with vodka, arguably the craft cocktail world's least-favorite spirit. It's bright pink. It was a fixture on Sex and the City. Interestingly, I think that last one was responsible for both the Cosmo's rapid rise and its decline. It became a little too popular to be cool anymore. Plus, around the same time avid HBO viewers were ordering Cosmos, the craft cocktail renaissance was really picking up. It's even easier to turn your nose up at a pink vodka cocktail when you're holding a barrel-aged Negroni served over a perfectly clear hand-carved ice sphere.

But I'd like to argue that the Cosmo deserves a second look. Made correctly, it's a well-balanced, tasty, surprisingly boozy drink. And yes, it's pink. It's fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously. But these are things I value in a cocktail. In fact, if we're already going to be making Cosmos, I say ramp it up. Let's add some champagne!

I was originally only going to post this cocktail to Instagram, but when I realized how ridiculously delicious it was, I knew I needed to write an impromptu blog post as well. The flavors in a Cosmopolitan go great with sparkling wine. I went with a rosé to preserve the pink color and keep it from getting too sweet. It is such a fun, tasty cocktail! I can't imagine anything more perfect for a girl's night (Galentine's Day, anyone?) but it's also perfect for, I don't know... a Tuesday?

I made this drink in collaboration with Snow Leopard Vodka, a brand that gives 15% of its profits to the Snow Leopard Trust to support conservation of these incredible animals. And in the month of January, they are doubling that amount! So if you're going to be making Cosmos, this is the bottle you want to pick up. If you don't need any vodka right now (can't really imagine that, but ok), they are also doubling all donations made via Facebook. Consider giving to help save the snow leopard!

Sparkling Cosmo

1 1/2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. triple sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
Sparkling rosé, to top (~4 oz)

Combine vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling rosé. Garnish with a slice of blood orange or lime.