The idea that cocktails are fads just like clothes and hair styles is absolutely true. Cocktails you may think are staples, like the Old Fashion and the Martini see a decline in popularity and then a resurgence. So, when you visit your favorite cocktail spot you may see something on the menu you haven't seen since you were younger.
This post will discuss the popularity of the Cosmopolitan and its history. I, myself, am not a big vodka based drink fan but many of my friends are. If there is one thing I have found about home bartending, you cannot force your tastes on someone else. So, wanting to caterer to the tastes of my guests I did a little digging into the most popular cocktails that use vodka.
The Cosmopolitan (commonly called the Cosmo) is a drink made popular again for friends in my age group because it was Carrie's (from Sex in the City) go to cocktail. This pretty pink drink also has been refined to a clean, light taste. I am a whiskey drinker by nature and one of my favorite cocktails I make is called a Fruit Cake. It is a recipe I found on the Maker's Mark app and I (and my whiskey drinking friends) have made it the go-to fresh cocktail.
The Cosmopolitan incorporates fresh lime, a bit of juice, and the orange flavor of Cointreau with a good Vodka. Many people make their Cosmopolitans with Absolut Citron for that extra citrus flavor. That makes for a good cocktail for sure. I don't always have Citron on hand (not being a vodka person) so if someone visiting wants a Cosmo I use whatever Vodka I have on the shelf and add a little squirt of lemon along with the lime juice in the recipe. If you know you will be making Cosmopolitans and have vodka on hand and don't want to buy Citron you can put some vodka in a mason jar with a wedge of lemon or just lemon peel for a day or two before making your cocktail.
Below is a picture of Cosmo I made for a friend who was visiting during the holidays. As you can see I added a sugar rim (because so many cocktails taste great with a rim) , a sprig of mint and a few fresh cranberries. I also choose not to serve it in a traditional Martini glass but used a Cosmopolitan/Martini short stem glass - just because I think they are cute.
Making a Cosmopolitan isn't difficult. And if you tried to make the Gingerbread Flip I posted previously, then this will be a breeze. If you don't have Cointreau on hand but have Triple Sec (also orange flavored) you can swap it, but the Cointreau has a better flavor overall.
Cosmopolitan
2oz Vodka (can infuse the vodka with citrus for a day or two)
1 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Cranberry juice
1/2 oz Lime juice
1. Combined all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Strain into a Cosmo/Martini glass
3. Garnish with a slice of lime and some fresh cranberries
4. Enjoy!
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