Recipe~The Cosmopolitan: A Worthy Modern Classic

Recipe~The Cosmopolitan: A Worthy Modern Classic

There is no denying the arrival, endurance and permanence in the pantheon of timeless cocktails of The Cosmopolitan.
The proof (80%, excuse the pun) is not only in it's huge success in the hip bars and clubs of the world, but perhaps eve more tellingly in the more refined (some would say stodgy) cocktail destinations. When I worked at the exclusive Bar and Books chain, not to mention The Campbell Apartment, The World Bar and at Bergdorf Goodman the one thing I served along side Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds and Manhattans were Cosmos. And not just for the ladies. Men too (although often upon request in rocks glass-as if that would disguise the vibrant pink colour!)

There is debate over who created it, although it is generally attributed to being created at the Odeon in New York City (a simultaneous claim is made by Fog City Diner in San Francisco) and popularized by the Dale Degroff at th Rainbow Room. The fact of the matter is Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice used to promote a cocktail in the 50's and 60's that was made of vodka, cranberry juice and lime. If one was to throw in hal an ounce of triple sec (orange liquer), you'd have a Cosmo. Like I say, an truly original drink ( as opposed to a renamed variation on one) is rare.

Here is how to make a Cosmopolitan:

1.5 ounces Lemon or Citrus vodk
0.5 ounce triple sec (or Cointreau is even better)
0.4 ounce of fresh lime (so little, a tiny squeeze!)
1 ounce cranbery juice (never more)

-Build the ingredients in your mixing glass in the order just listed.
Be sure to pour in the cranberry juice last. You'll see the juice colour the mix--remember never more han an ounce. The goal is to make the drink a pink colour -not- a deep red. The cranberry juice can easily overwhelm the cocktail in taste and even give it a heavy syrupy texture. So just a little splash of cranberry.
-Fill your mixing glass with ice.
-Cover mixing glass with your metal shaker, make sure it's tightly sealed
-Shake vigorously (30 times, over your shoulder in case some should spill on your guests...enjoy the shake like the rat-ta-tat of a Tommy gun)
-Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (see article to your right)
-Garnish with a lemon twist or a lime wedge or a flamed orange peel (see garnish article to your right).

Serve, smile and encourage your guest to drink quickly while it's daring you to!

Collect thanks, smiles, dates, accolades.

Live the good life.

Salud.