Ah, the Cosmo. Is there any other recipe more emblematic of the terrible excesses of bar culture in the ’80s and ’90s? After skyrocketing success due to its association with HBO’s hit show Sex and the City, the Cosmo has fallen badly out of fashion.
However, the real joke is on people scoffing at what can be a delicious, refreshing, well-balanced drink. Cosmos are firmly in the sour family of drinks, and not too far removed from daiquiris, margaritas, whiskey/gin sours and others that don’t bear the same stigma.
At its core, the Cosmo is just a kamikaze (an equally terrible cocktail name that just means vodka, sugar and lime) with a couple of small tweaks. Simple syrup is swapped out with triple sec for a touch of citrus, and a splash of cranberry is added for tartness. That’s it. No special flavored vodkas or sugary supermarket mixers required here. You could think of it as a vodka margarita with a touch of cranberry. In fact, the basic structure of the Cosmo (spirit, liqueur, lime and a touch of fruit juice) isn’t far removed from that of a Hemingway Daiquiri, a classic cocktail lauded by bartenders and revered by classy drinking types the world over.
So, the next time you’re binge watching old episodes of SATC on your couch, here’s how to fix yourself a proper Cosmo.
Last Updated: May 15, 2023
Ingredients
Directions
Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled. Double-strain (from shaker through fine mesh strainer) into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist.
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