A few years ago, if you ordered a Cosmopolitan in any bar you would have gotten a definite sideways glance from the bartender who was serving you. You see, the Cosmopolitan is the perfect example of a drink that is not only famous but also famously maligned.
By the mid-2000s, this alluringly pink drink had spent more than a decade reached such a high point of popularity that it quickly became passé and widely dismissed.
In the bartending community at least.
Interestingly, that was not necessarily the case with consumers. After all, the combination of drinkability and the Sex In The City reference is not one that can be easily ignored. And once you add in it’s definite ‘Instagram-able’ appeal, then you have a drink that has actually been a pretty steady seller for bars across the world.
Basically, the Cosmopolitan is a Kamikaze (vodka, triple sec and lime juice) with the addition of Cranberry Juice. And during its heyday, it took on a sweetness and neon-like colour that can only be explained by the oversized martini glasses in which it was often served.
But done right, the Cosmopolitan is actually a really good drink. And it’s only years later that we can look at it with fresh eyes and appreciate it for what it is. In a way, it’s a little like how we react to catchy pop tunes over time. You might have hated them when they came out, but as time passes, you begin to appreciate what it sounds like when doves cry.
So as the Cosmopolitan comes full circle, the drink (or more specifically its riffs) are popping up on bar menus across the world. But as Grey Goose Global head of Mixology, Joe McCanta will tell you, the drink has shifted away from that overly sweet drink you remember, to one with true balance and depth.
To celebrate World Cosmopolitan day tomorrow, McCanta has shared his favourite iterations of the Cosmopolitan recipes that not only suit every taste but also every occasion. So whether you like yours classic, with a twist or a little more fancy, the Cosmopolitan is back, baby … and we’re really not that upset about it.
Classic: Grey Goose Cosmopolitan
The classic taste of Grey Goose joins a splash of Cointreau in this delicious cocktail. Always a classic go-to!
Ingredients
75 ml Grey Goose Original or Grey Goose L’Orange
10 ml Cointreau
10 ml Cranberry Juice
Squeeze of Lime
Orange Twist
Instruction
1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the first four ingredients in the order listed.
2. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with an orange twist
Joe McCanta advises: “The Grey Goose Cosmopolitan is an incredibly balanced and sophisticated drink when made correctly –using too much cranberry juice can make for a sickly-sweet version. I prefer to use less cranberry juice which makes it a drier drink and gives the cocktail an elegant pale pink hue. The Cosmopolitan tastes great with Grey Goose Original, but those in favour of a zestier palette can use Grey Goose L’Orange. Liven it up by adding flamed orange peel to garnish.”
With A Twist: Grey Goose Spice Route
A modern spin on the classic Cosmopolitan and a nod to the famous spice trading in Amsterdam, this rich and complex cocktail brings together flavours from around the world.
Ingredients
45 ml Grey Goose Original
30 ml Fresh lime juice
15 ml Cointreau
15 ml Honey syrup (2 parts honey:1 part water)
8 Fresh raspberries
1 Bar spoon 6-spice blend (ground cloves,
cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, anise, cardamom)
Instructions
1. Muddle the juice, orange liqueur, honey and raspberries with the spices.
2. Add the Grey Goose Original Vodka, Shake and strain over cubed ice into a Collins glass or a glass you have in the cupboard
3. Add 3 fresh raspberries and a dusting of spice blend to garnish
Joe McCanta advises: “Cosmopolitans don’t always need cranberry juice; a nice alternative can be to use honey and fresh fruit – such as raspberries – to give a naturally sweet taste”
A Little bit Fancy: Grey Goose Roman Cosmo Martini Cocktail
Grey Goose Vodka is perfectly accented by the sweetness of vermouth and tartness of cranberry and lime.
Ingredients
35 ml Grey Goose Original
20 ml Martini Rosso Vermouth
20 ml White Grape juice
10 ml Lime Juice
+ a splash of cranberry juice
Maraschino Cherry
Instructions
1. Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini cocktail glass.
3. Add a Maraschino cherry to garnish
Joe advises: “Vermouth is a great way to give this cocktail a sweeter flavour profile. Maraschino cherries are the ultimate garnish for this cocktail and the end result leaves you feeling like quite the cocktail connoisseur, a great cocktail for your virtual cocktail celebrations with friends.”
