A cosmopolitan is a cocktail made with vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry juice, and fresh-squeezed lime juice or sweetened lime juice. Informally, it is referred to as a Cosmo.
The Cosmopolitan is a vodka-based cocktail that has become very popular with women, especially since its prominent appearance in the popular HBO television show "Sex and the City." The Cosmopolitan, or "Cosmo" is a sweet-tart combination of citrus and cranberry flavors that, conveniently, is an attractive pink color when mixed and served properly.
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Ingredients
• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. triple sec liqueur
• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• dash Rose's lime cordial (or juice of 1/4 fresh lime)
Garnish
• Flamed orange zest
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Preparation
The cosmopolitan is usually served in a large cocktail glass, also called a martini glass. For this reason, the drink is sometimes mistakenly categorized as a type of martini.
Mix 2 parts lemon vodka to one part triple sec combined with one part cranberry and the juice of half a lime. Cointreau or other high-quality triple sec provides a cleaner taste than cheaper triple sec, and is generally substituted in the cosmopolitan. The cranberry mainly adds colour and should not excessively dilute the drink.
A lime wedge is always used to garnish. Traditionally a coin sized piece of orange should be "flamed" across the top of the drink. This coats the drink with a slick of citrus oil.
1.Combine ingredients.
2.Shake over ice.
3.Strain into a cocktail glass garnished with flamed orange zest.
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Variations
Some recipes substitute:
• Cointreau liqueur for the Triple Sec, or
• Absolut Citron for plain vodka, (which increases the citrus kick)
• lime juice with 1/2 oz. of Rose's sweetened lime juice, (resulting in a drink more sweet than tart.)
• One variation is to squeeze a lime wedge into the chilled cocktail glass instead of including it with the ingredients to be shaken.
• The original non-IBA versions used Rose's lime cordial instead of fresh lime juice, and Triple Sec instead of Cointreau, and uses different proportions
• A blue cosmopolitan may be made by using white cranberry juice instead of standard red juice, and blue curaçao in place of the triple sec.
• A Cosmocello substitutes limoncello for the lime juice.
• Another variation calls for stirring in a mixing glass, instead of shaking.
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History
According to the International Bartenders Association the original recipe is based on vodka citron, lemon-flavored vodka. The cosmopolitan is a relative of cranberry coolers like the Cape Codder. Though often presented far differently, the cosmopolitan also bears a likeness in composition to the kamikaze cocktail.
This origins of the cosmopolitan are somewhat disputed. It is likely that the drink was created independently by different bartenders since the 1970s. It is generally recognized that John Caine brought the drink to San Francisco around 1987 from the Midwest. The same year in Manhattan, the internationally recognized version of the cocktail was created by Toby Cecchini, based on a poorly described version of Cheryl Cook's creation.
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What other cocktails contain vodka?
• Blue Motorcycle or AMF
• Blue Hawaiian
• Melon Bomb
• Lychee Martini, Polish Martini
• Sex on the beach
• White Russian
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