Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe – Combine That Drink

The Cosmopolitan cocktail is a lovely reddish-pink gem of a drink. It options citron vodka with fruit juice and Cointreau and lime.

It’s been an iconic drink because the 80s, and much more so because it was featured in a sure TV present of nice recognition. With its vibrant pink hue and tantalizing flavors, it’s very simple to like.

The origin story

The origins of the Cosmopolitan or unsure. It’s credited to a number of completely different bartenders within the 70s and 80s, with the commonest origin story being that it was created by a Florida bartender within the mid-80s.

However lately, somebody has unearthed a recipe from 1934 from a e-book known as Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars. It’s known as the Cosmopolitan Daisy and it sounds so much like our Cosmopolitan, solely with gin and raspberry syrup as a substitute of vodka and cranberry juice. 

The precise model of the recipe included right here might be from any of the sources who’ve claimed credit score over time. We’ll additionally point out some potential variations.

One factor we are able to say for positive: the model of this drink with citron vodka can’t be older than 1988 as a result of that’s when Absolut first began producing Citron. And that’s now thought of the official model.

Tasting Notes

My first thought on tasting a Cosmo for the primary time was that it tasted so “contemporary.” It jogged my memory of grapefruit – no, pink lemonade.

It has that good mixture of sharp and candy – berry and citrus. Nevertheless it’s exhausting to pick any single ingredient. Once they’re balanced in the best proportions, it’s all only one notice, like pink lemonade.

Key Components

The Cosmopolitan requires just a few components, most of which you’re more likely to have readily available.

1. Absolut Citron Vodka: The inspiration of the Cosmopolitan, vodka supplies a stronger citrus taste and many of the drink’s kick.

2. Cointreau: This orange-flavored liqueur provides a contact of sweetness and complexity to the Cosmopolitan. It additionally helps to steadiness the tartness of the cranberry and lime juices.

3. Cranberry Juice: The colourful, tart taste of cranberry juice provides some depth. It additionally lends the cocktail its signature pink hue and supplies a refreshing, fruity notice that ties the opposite components collectively.

4. Lime Juice: A squeeze of contemporary lime juice provides a vibrant, citrusy factor that helps to chop by the sweetness and intensify the general taste profile.

Some variations of this recipe name for plain vodka plus both grapefruit or lemon juice. And you can also make it that approach. However the Citron provides a really gratifying citrus taste.

Absolut Citron was specified initially as a result of the drink as we all know it now was invented when it got here out. It might have been created to advertise Citron vodka.

The recipe additionally initially known as for Rose’s Sweetened Lime as a substitute of contemporary squeezed lime juice. Rose’s provides some sweetness, which can or might not be what you want on this drink.

Newer recipes name for contemporary lime juice, which is able to give it a pleasant tart taste. Lime juice goes splendidly with cranberry.

Some bars make this drink extra candy, and it’s all a matter of non-public choice. Should you want them on the dry aspect, you undoubtedly need to use Citron and contemporary lime.

The orange liqueur is Cointreau, formally, however different variations name for triple sec. It’s additionally good with Patron Citronge. 

Ideas for Crafting the Good Cosmopolitan

For the easiest outcomes while you’re making this drink, take a look at the next ideas:

1. Use High quality Components: Begin with high-quality vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and contemporary lime juice. The higher the components, the extra balanced and nuanced the ultimate cocktail shall be.

2. Chill All the things: Earlier than mixing, chill your entire components, in addition to your cocktail shaker and serving glass. It will assist to make sure a wonderfully chilled and refreshing Cosmopolitan.

3. Shake, Shake, Shake: Vigorously shake the components with ice to totally incorporate the flavors and obtain the specified texture and temperature.

Serving Events

This can be a nice drink for almost any event. It’s nice for an evening out or an evening in. It’s additionally nice to get pleasure from on a heat day by the pool. 

It’s such a flexible drink that it might be nice for a proper celebration, like a marriage, too.

Meals Pairings

The Cosmopolitan pairs effectively almost something, to be trustworthy. It’s nice with any fish or seafood dish. It performs effectively towards spicy meals, too.

And it’s nice with very candy desserts, as a result of the citrus in it cuts by heavy sweetness. After which there’s charcuterie and cheese boards, with these fantastic salty, savory, umami flavors and distinction fantastically with a candy and bitter cocktail.

Associated Cocktails to Strive

Should you love this drink, you must also take a look at:

• Sea Breeze, which blends vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juice.
• Lemon Drop Martini is one other basic that includes vodka with orange liqueur, lemon juice and sugar.
• Singapore Sling, a stunning drink with gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, Cointreau, Benedictine and extra.
• Clean Pink Lemonade, with its down residence attraction coming from vodka, cranberry juice, candy and bitter and 7-up.
• Lengthy Seaside Iced Tea, that includes a beneficiant quantity of white liquors with cranberry juice and triple sec for taste.

Variations and Twists on the Basic Cosmopolitan

Whereas the basic Cosmopolitan is unbelievable, you need to be happy to place your personal spin on it:

1. Elderflower Cosmopolitan: Swap out the triple sec for St-Germain, an elderflower liqueur, for a floral and subtly candy tackle the Cosmopolitan.

2. Cranberry-Ginger Cosmopolitan: Incorporate a contact of ginger syrup or ginger liqueur so as to add a spicy, warming factor to the cocktail.

3. Cosmopolitan Martini: Improve the vodka-to-juice ratio to create a extra spirit-forward Cosmopolitan that’s served up in a martini glass.

4. Glowing Cosmopolitan: Prime the Cosmopolitan with a splash of glowing wine or champagne for a festive and effervescent twist.

5. Seasonal Cosmopolitan: Experiment with seasonal components, equivalent to contemporary berries, citrus, or herbs, to create a Cosmopolitan that displays the flavors of the second.

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