Cosmopolitan - a ladies' cocktail instead of a martini

At the beginning of the 70s of the last century, only a limited circle of people in underground American parties knew about this cocktail. But as soon as the drink appeared on the television screen one fine moment, the whole world started talking about it. Now “Cosmopolitan” is considered one of the best ladies’ cocktails.

Historical reference. Initially, the Cosmopolitan cocktail was created to support the alcohol brand Absolut Citron (vodka with lemon flavor). But the recipe never became popular; over time, it was quickly forgotten. The drink “took root” only in certain informal groups in the USA (the United States of America is a state in North America) .

The second birth of “Cosmopolitan” was given to a woman bartender from Florida, Cheryl Cook, who decided to come up with a purely ladies’ cocktail that would become a martini candidate. Cheryl mixed Absolut Citron vodka, Triple Sec orange liqueur, cranberry and lemon juices. And this recipe quickly went out of fashion.

Manhattan bartender Toby Cizzini became the “dad” of Cosmopolitan. In Mrs. Cook's recipe, he changed two ingredients: Triple sec liqueur to Cointreau, and lemon juice to lime juice. This particular option has become traditional, and the cocktail itself was recognized by the International Bartenders Association (IBA) in 1986.

But “Cosmopolitan” became truly popular only after the release of the cult television series “Sex in the Big Town” in 1998, the heroines of which drank this cocktail in almost every episode, sharing women’s secrets.

Traditional Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe

Composition and proportions:

regular or lemon-flavored vodka – 45 ml;
Cointreau orange liqueur – 15 ml;
fresh lime juice – 7-8 ml;
cranberry juice – 30 ml.

All ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 3:1:0.5:2 (3 parts vodka, 1 part liqueur, half a part lime and 2 parts cranberry juice). Lime juice can be replaced with lemon juice, there is no significant difference between them.

Manufacturing development

1. Cool the martini glass by filling it with ice cubes.

2. Add all ingredients along with ice into a shaker and stir.

3. Throw the ice out of the glass.

4. Pour the cocktail from the shaker into a glass through a strainer.

5. To decorate Cosmopolitan, you can put a slice of lemon or orange on top, but it is almost always served without decorations.

It is customary to drink Cosmo in small sips, trying to extract all the notes of its mild taste. Vodka is not noticeable in the composition. I also advise you to watch a video in which a professional bartender shows how to correctly create this cocktail.

Cocktail Cosmopolitan

Homeland : USA (United States of America - a state in North America)

Story:

The Cosmopolitan (cocktail) has come a long way historically. Those who do not understand it prefer to take pieces from it and compose separate versions of the origin of the drink. And all because it was once not as popular as it is now.

When they made it for the first time, they had a specific goal: to advertise Absolut Citron vodka. But the idea failed: they ordered the drink occasionally, and later they completely forgot that it was such. They say that this drink was only popular in gay clubs in the 1970s.

Cheryl Cook, a Florida bartender, remembered the recipe and transformed it. She decided to amaze American ladies by discovering a substitute for Martini for them. After all, not everyone loved martinis, but a beautiful glass forced ladies to take it specifically in bars. The invention (1985) was based on the same citrus vodka, which was complemented by Triple Sec liqueur, fresh cranberry and lemon juice. And this drink did not spread around the world.

The recipe, generally recognized by the International Bartenders Association (1986), was invented (or adjusted) by Toby Cecini (Manhattan). He suggested pouring Cointreau into the glass rather than Triple Sec, and replacing lemon juice with lime juice.

This option became a classic, but gained popularity only after its advertising in the television series “Sex and the Big Town” (1998), where it often flickered in the hands of ladies, becoming an emblem of long-legged beauties. So, if you want to look amazing, order yourself a Cosmopolitan cocktail.

Types and varieties:

There are options for the drink, but their differences are not significant. They mainly involve replacing lemon vodka with regular vodka, fresh lime juice with lemon juice, and using different brands of orange liqueur.

More exciting options include “Pigeon (blue) Cosmopolitan”, “Apple” and “Cosmocello”. We present their recipes below, following the traditional one.

Effect on the body: it encourages conversation, and thanks to the vitamin C contained in the juices, it increases immunity.

How to cook and drink correctly:

The Cosmopolitan cocktail can be prepared quickly and easily. They drink it in small sips. Serve in cocktail glasses or martini glasses, which are cooled beforehand.

Please pay attention:

It is permissible to replace lemon vodka in the recipe with regular vodka, and lime juice with lemon juice. If you replace Cointreau with another orange liqueur, nothing much will change.

The main thing in a drink is maintaining proportions, especially when increasing the number of components. Vodka should be 3 parts, liqueur – 1 part, cranberry juice – 2 parts, lime juice – 0.5 part.

Cocktail "Cosmopolitan"

This recipe is considered a classic.

vodka “Absolut Citron” – 40 ml
orange liqueur "Cointreau" (Cointreau) - 15 ml
cranberry juice - 30 ml
juice from ½ lime (7-8 ml)
ice – 3-6 pieces

You need to cook like this:

Pour ice into the shaker and pour in all the ingredients. After shaking, fill the mixture with the “martinka” consistency. In this case, the ice should not be transferred into the glass - it should remain in the shaker.

If desired, garnish with a slice of citrus fruit, but this is not at all necessary. Most often the drink is served without decoration.

"Golubiy (Blue) Cosmopolitan"

vodka “Absolut Citron” – 40 ml
Blue Curacao liqueur – 15 ml
snow-white cranberry juice - 30 ml
juice from ½ lime (7-8 ml)
ice – 3-6 pieces

You need to cook like this:

Pour ice into the shaker and pour in all the ingredients. After shaking, fill the mixture with the “martinka” consistency. In this case, the ice should not be transferred into the glass - it should remain in the shaker.

"Apple"

vodka “Absolut Citron” – 40 ml
orange liqueur "Cointreau" (Cointreau) - 15 ml
apple juice - 30 ml
juice from ½ lime (7-8 ml)
ice – 3-6 pieces

You need to cook like this:

"Orange"

vodka “Absolut Citron” – 40 ml
orange liqueur "Cointreau" (Cointreau) - 15 ml
orange juice - 30 ml
juice from ½ lime (7-8 ml)
ice – 3-6 pieces

You need to cook like this:

"Cosmocello"

vodka “Absolut Citron” – 40 ml
orange liqueur "Cointreau" (Cointreau) - 15 ml
cranberry juice - 30 ml
Limoncello liqueur - 8 ml
ice – 3-6 pieces

You need to cook like this:

Cosmopolitan cocktail - a traditional mix with a rich history

The Cosmopolitan cocktail is a drink with a mild flavor of lime and cranberry with a caramel color. It is mainly chosen by representatives of the fair sex. To enjoy a cocktail, you don’t have to go to a nightclub or bar. You can create it yourself in the comfort of your own home, treat it to a guest and tell about the origin of the drink.

History of the Cosmopolitan cocktail

The path to recognition of this mix was quite long. In the 70s, it was invented to promote Absolut Citron lemon vodka. Specifically, it was the alcoholic basis for the production of Cosmopolitan. But the drink did not become popular, and was in demand only in the narrow circles of gay clubs.

In 1985, a bartender named Cheryl Cook (Florida) recreated the cocktail and presented it as her invented Cosmopolitan ladies' spirit mix. Cheryl mixed Triple Sec orange liqueur, Absolut Citron lemon vodka and Rose's lemon juice, and added cranberries for the pink color. But the drink did not become popular again.

A little later, bartender Toby Cecini decided to prepare a Cosmopolitan alcoholic cocktail, changing the recipe: Triple Sec orange liqueur was replaced with Cointreau liqueur (Cointreau), and lemon juice with lime juice. There was little demand for this version of Cosmopolitan either.

But since 1998, ladies and girls all over the world have become interested in the cocktail. This came about after the emergence of the mega-popular television series “Sex and the Big Town” - specifically Cosmo was the favorite drink of its heroines.

The cocktail is included in the “Modern Classics” group according to the Global Bartenders Association.

Cosmopolitan cocktail: recipe at home

It’s easy to prepare a drink without the help of others, as long as you follow the tips and proportions. You need to have on hand:

shaker;
Martini glass;
strainer (fine strainer);
cocktail tube.

Cosmopolitan cocktail: composition

There are many variants of this mix: blue (blue) Cosmopolitan, apple, orange, Cosmocello, etc. In order to create a traditional Cosmopolitan cocktail, you will need:

45 ml Citron vodka (can be replaced with regular vodka);
15 ml Cointreau liqueur (or Trip Sec);
30 ml cranberry juice;
15 ml fresh lime (about half a small lime);
200 gr. ice cubes (or crushed).
lime wedge for decoration.

How to create a Cosmopolitan cocktail

First you need to cool the glass: place it in the freezer or pour ice into it while the drink is being prepared:

Pour ice into a shaker.
Add vodka, liqueur, lime and cranberry juice.
Mix thoroughly.
Pour the purchased substance into an empty cool glass through a shaker strainer. It turns out that the remains of unmelted ice will remain in the shaker.
Garnish the cocktail with a slice of lime.

Drink in small sips, enjoying the light taste of Cosmo, which is considered an alcoholic mix for the whole day.

If you want to try something more original with citrus notes, then you should opt for the Sumernik cocktail or pay attention to the Margarita cocktail.

If you have any questions, want to share your fascinating manufacturing experience or impressions - we are waiting for your messages and explanations!

Cocktail "Cosmopolitan"

Recipe for dry pink cocktail “Cosmopolitan”. This is a very common drink that has quickly become one of the most favorite and recognizable cocktails in the world.

If you prefer the sweetest cocktails, then below are several Cosmo options, including the traditional recipe. You can try out different manufacturing methods and find your own. In any case, we recommend drinking only premium vodka to get a very tasty result.

Ingredients

Manufacturing method

Prepare all ingredients.

Take a shaker and fill it with ice. Pour the ingredients into it and shake well.

Add ice to the cocktail glass to chill it. Then remove the ice and pour the contents of the shaker into the glass.

Garnish with orange peel and serve. Enjoy!

Save the recipe

Recipe Creator

Yuri Burmin

Bartender with more than 10 years of experience. During his own work, he wrote more than 900 recipes for various publications. He is a spirits cocktail consultant and helps bars and restaurants create bar menus. Member of the Russian Bartenders Association.

Recipe photo

How to create a traditional sweet “Cosmopolitan”

To get the sweetest version of Cosmo, which is usually served in bars, you need to add significantly more cranberry juice and less liqueur.

Composition and proportions of the traditional “Cosmopolitan”:

4 parts vodka (you can use citrus vodka)
1.5 parts Cointreau orange liqueur
3 parts cranberry juice
1.5 parts freshly squeezed lime juice

Cocktail strength

When prepared in accordance with the proportions indicated in the recipe, you will receive a medium-strength vodka cocktail.

Dry pink “Cosmopolitan” – alcohol content 28%.

Traditional sweet “Cosmopolitan” – alcohol content 20%.

Fruity “Cosmo” is not as innocent as it might seem. Be careful and do not overuse this cocktail.

History of the cocktail

One of the first mentions of the Cosmopolitan cocktail was a recipe in the book “Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars,” published in 1934. Back then it was made from the consistency of gin, Cointreau liqueur, lemon juice and raspberry syrup. But it was only in the 70s that the drink gained popularity and was transformed into a modern vodka-cranberry cocktail. At the time, bartenders across America were experimenting with a cranberry version of the Death Man cocktail. And, as often happens in such stories, almost all of them claimed the title of the creator of “Cosmo”, which we know now.

According to one version, “Cosmopolitan” was made by a female bartender from Florida, Cheryl Cook. In an interview, she said that she invented the drink in 1985, although it was popular in gay bars in the late 1970s. Her recipe was: Absolut Citron vodka, triple sec orange liqueur, lemon juice and a little cranberry juice for color.

Subsequently, Toby Cecchini, a bartender from Manhattan, prepared a new version of the cocktail, taking Cheryl's recipe as a base and making changes. Instead of triple sec, he drank Cointreau liqueur, and instead of lemon juice, lime juice. This particular option has reached our times and has become a model for the production of “Cosmopolitan”.

The cocktail gained wide popularity in 1998 after the release of the television series “Sex and the Big Town,” where “Cosmopolitan” was the favorite drink of the main characters.

Cocktail options

“Cosmopolitan” is such a popular cocktail that it has inspired almost all bartenders to create different versions of it. Here are just some of them:

“Campari Cosmo” is a good aperitif that balances the sweetness of citrus vodka and the bitterness of Campari bitters: mix 2 parts citrus-flavored vodka, 1 bitter Campari liqueur, 1 part orange juice and add a little triple-flavored liqueur. sec.

“Crantini” is a very simple version: 2.5 parts vodka and 1 part cranberry liqueur.

“Cape Coder” is also an ordinary refreshing berry cocktail, named after a city in the USA (the United States of America is a state in North America) . 60 ml of vodka, 90 ml of cranberry juice and a little lime juice for taste.

“Honey Martini” (Pinky Honey Martini) is a savory, sweet and sour cocktail. To make it, mix 1 part Bärenfang honey liqueur (Bärenjäger), 1 part vodka, a little cranberry juice and citrus juice.

“Very Berry Cosmo” is a wonderful purple cocktail. Ingredients: 2 parts Van Gogh Açai-Blueberry vodka, 1/2 part Chambord liqueur, 1/2 part triple sec and the same amount of cranberry juice.

“Watermelon Cosmo” is a regular and sweet version of “Cosmopolitan”. Mix 3 parts watermelon liqueur (for example, Bols Watermelon Liqueur), 1.5 parts vodka, the same amount of cranberry juice, half a part sweet syrup and the juice of 1 lime.