There are some drinks out there that get an unfairly bad rap, and the Cosmopolitan cocktail is certainly one of them. We say that its reputation as overwrought, overly sweet, and unsophisticated is unfair because it’s actually a pretty classically-structured cocktail—yet the stereotype that fans of the Cosmopolitan drink exclusively girly party shooters has proven to be a stubborn one. That’s why we’ve set out to dispel some of the myths (and bad practices) that have made it a pariah in the world of craft cocktails.
What is a Cosmopolitan, Anyway?
Citrus vodka, Cointreau, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and a splash of cranberry make the Cosmopolitan a pretty simple cocktail, and with some slight adjustments it can fit just about anyone’s palate. If you break that recipe down, it’s likely that it’s a variation on an older drink called the Kamikaze, which calls for vodka, Cointreau (or another triple sec), and lime juice—it’s not dissimilar to a classic Margarita recipe that swaps out the tequila.
When you put it that way, it really doesn’t seem like the overdone, artless cocktail it’s often made out to be. Sure, cranberry juice isn’t exactly the mixologist’s best friend, since it’s an enormous pain to make your own from scratch, and the bottled stuff tends to be pretty heavily processed. But aside from that, all of the other ingredients are easily craft-approved.
Where the Cosmopolitan cocktail’s reputation (and that of many Cosmopolitan drink variations) has gone awry is in its execution. It’s hard to get anyone to agree exactly how long ago the Cosmo was invented, but most booze academics will concede that its heyday came in the 1990s—and while that coincided with the very beginnings of the craft cocktail movement, in many places it was a pretty dark time for drinking.
How to Make a Cosmo the Right Way
Well, first we’ll touch on how people were making their Cosmos in a less-than-ideal way. Back in the ’90s (and a fair few places even today), ordering a Cosmopolitan would get you a mix of vodka, Rose’s sweetened lime juice, well triple sec, and up to a full ounce of cranberry juice.
The resulting drink was cloyingly sweet, overly tart, and generally pretty light on the actual booze. We hesitate to say that any cocktail is done “wrong,” but this one comes pretty close. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to improve on it.
Lime Juice
First and probably most important is our perennial gripe: always, always, always use fresh-squeezed lime juice if you’re able. Sweetened lime cordials rarely add much value to a drink, and their syrupy, heavily-processed consistency is generally pretty overpowering. Fresh lime juice turns your Cosmo into a tart, vodka-based Margarita rather than a cranberry limeade from a vending machine.
Vodka
Weirdly enough, the vodka is often overlooked when it comes to making a Cosmopolitan. People will generally specify that you want to use a citrus-flavored variety, but rarely will they indicate which brands are best. In our experience, Hangar 1 Buddha’s Hand Citron, St. George Spirits California Citrus, Absolut Citron, and Belvedere Citrus are the clear winners in a category that can be somewhat inconsistent.
Triple Sec
Next is the orange liqueur. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a standard triple sec, and Bols or Luxardo will do just fine in a pinch. But there are also some pretty atrocious bottles out there, and the well triple sec at a dive bar or nightclub is typically going to fall into the latter category.
If you really want to elevate your Cosmopolitan cocktail, go with Cointreau—it’s made in the style of a triple sec, but it’s also one of the most highly-rated liqueurs of all time. If it can stand on its own sipped neat, it’s certainly going to make for a more nuanced drink.
Cranberry Juice
If you really feel like making your own cranberry juice, there are plenty of recipes online that can help you figure out how. Barring that, though, the trick to making a well-balanced Cosmo is to use it sparingly. Cranberry can easily overwhelm the other ingredients in any drink, so you want to stick with just a splash. It adds some tart notes to the citrus, and gives the cocktail its signature pink hue.
With these adjustments, the Cosmopolitan cocktail can be a really fantastic drink. No, it’s probably not going to blow anyone’s mind at a craft bartending competition, but that’s not its purpose; the Cosmo is a good-looking, refreshing tipple for those days you just want to rock a bit of pink.
We think the haters have dominated this discussion for long enough. The old Cosmopolitan is dead. Long live the Cosmopolitan!
Photo: Ralph Daily
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