Cosmopolitan Drink

In popular memory, the cosmopolitan cocktail had its heyday in the late ’90s and early aughts courtesy of Carrie Bradshaw and the women of Sex and the City. But the drink’s history actually predates World War II and iterations have made the rounds (in New York, Provincetown, San Fransisco, and elsewhere), ebbing and flowing in popularity since that time.

The modern version of this classic cocktail recipe is widely credited to Toby Cecchini, who served it at the Odeon in the late ’80s to celebrities like Madonna and Sandra Bernhard. Citrus vodka was newly on the scene and he saw the cosmo as a great vehicle for the spirit. Orange liqueur is the second component—the go-to is Cointreau, which is vibrant and not-too-sweet, but any floral, warm dry Curaçao would also work well (and if you’re looking for more Cointreau cocktails to help use up the bottle, we have you covered). Our version calls for Rose’s lime juice, a sweet-tart syrup; for a more bracing cocktail, feel free to swap in fresh lime juice instead. Cranberry juice provides the signature rosy color and another hit of tang (sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, such as Ocean Spray, is the move here).

The usual garnish is a lime twist, which adds some balancing bitterness to the drink, but you could opt for an orange twist to bring out the floral flavors of the liqueur. For full SATC vibes, serve your cosmopolitan in a martini glass—or use another cocktail glass (we love a coupe or a Nick and Nora) for something a little more contemporary.