Cosmopolitan (cocktail) facts for kids
| IBA official cocktail | |
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A cosmopolitan garnished with a lemon twist
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| Type | Cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | Straight up; without ice |
| Standard garnish | lime slice |
| Standard drinkware |
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| IBA specified ingredients  |
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| Preparation | Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a large cocktail glass. Garnish with lime slice. |
| Timing | All day |
| Notes | The drink should be a frothy bright pink color |
| Cosmopolitan recipe at International Bartenders Association |
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A Cosmopolitan, often called a Cosmo, is a well-known mixed drink. It is usually made with a type of vodka, a citrus-flavored liqueur called Cointreau, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice. This drink is famous for its bright pink color and is often served in a special cocktail glass.
Contents
The History of the Cosmopolitan
The exact beginning of the Cosmopolitan drink is a bit of a mystery! Many people claim to have created it. The recipe used by the International Bartenders Association (a group of drink experts) uses lemon-flavored vodka. The Cosmopolitan is similar to other cranberry drinks, like the Cape Codder. It also shares some ingredients with another mixed drink called the Kamikaze.
Early Ideas (1930s)
Even though the Cosmopolitan seems like a modern drink, a recipe for something called a "Cosmopolitan Daisy" appeared in a book in 1934. This older recipe used different ingredients, like gin and raspberry syrup. However, it aimed for a similar look and feel to the modern Cosmo.
Who Invented It? Different Stories
Many bartenders and places claim to have invented the Cosmopolitan. Here are a few of the most talked-about stories:
Provincetown Story
One story says the drink was first made in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This town is known for being a creative and open community.
Neal Murray's Version
A bartender named Neal Murray said he created the Cosmopolitan in 1975. He was working at a steak house in Minneapolis. Murray said he added cranberry juice to a Kamikaze drink. The first person to taste it said, "How cosmopolitan!" This meant it was very stylish and modern.
Cheryl Cook's Idea
A cocktail expert named Gary Regan believes bartender Cheryl Cook made the original drink. She worked at the Strand Restaurant in Florida in the mid-1980s. Cook said she wanted to create a beautiful drink that everyone would enjoy. She noticed many people ordered Martinis just to look cool. Her idea was to make a pretty pink drink that tasted good and looked great in a classic glass. Her first recipe used a specific type of vodka, a splash of Triple sec, a drop of Rose's lime juice, and just enough cranberry juice to make it pink.
New York City's Role
Some people believe the version of the Cosmopolitan known worldwide was perfected in New York City in 1989. Bartenders Toby Cecchini and Melissa Huffsmith-Roth at the Odeon restaurant are often given credit for this. Their recipe is very close to the one used today.
Why the Cosmopolitan Became Popular
The Cosmopolitan became very popular in the 1990s. A big reason for its fame was the TV show Sex and the City. In the show, the main character, Carrie Bradshaw, often ordered the drink when she was out with her friends. This made many young women want to try it too. In one of the movies based on the show, a character asks why they stopped drinking Cosmos. Carrie replies, "because everyone else started." This shows just how popular it became!
How a Cosmopolitan is Made and Served
A Cosmopolitan is usually served in a large cocktail glass. This type of glass is also called a martini glass. Because of this, some people mistakenly think the Cosmopolitan is a type of martini.
The official recipe from the International Bartenders Association uses citrus-flavored vodka. However, some bartenders still use regular vodka. A small twist of lemon peel is often used to decorate the drink.
Different Ways to Make a Cosmopolitan
There are a few ways to change up a Cosmopolitan:
- Instead of shaking the ingredients, some people prefer to stir them in a mixing glass.
- You can use different citrus liqueurs instead of Cointreau.
- Some creative versions replace cranberry juice with other fruit juices, like prune juice for a "Constipolitan."
- For a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the vodka and triple sec with orange juice and pink lemonade. This is sometimes called a "virgin cosmopolitan" or a "CosNOpolitan."
Images for kids
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A cosmopolitan garnished with a lemon twist
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A cosmopolitan
See also
In Spanish: Cosmopolitan (cóctel) para niños
