By the time Sex in the City featured Carrie and the Cosmo, we were already killing this contemporary cocktail during our tenure at Pravda in the late 1990s. Our recipe stood out in the world of popular downtown nightlife destinations as the hallmark of what a Cosmopolitan should be; light pink and citrusy, with ice shards and foam surrounding a flamed orange peel. Although it speaks to trendy fashionistas, when made properly the Cosmopolitan can be a tasty libation. Clubs and marketing agencies later bastardized this drink with Rose’s lime juice, cheap triple sec, and enough cranberry juice to cure a bladder infection.

　　

Ingredients

makes 1 drink

　　1 1/2 ounces Charbay Meyer lemon vodka

　　1 ounce Cointreau

　　3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

　　1 ounce cranberry juice

　　1 orange twist, for garnish

　　

Step 1

Pour the vodka, Cointreau, and juices into a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange twist.

　　

tasting notes

Step 2

Dominant Flavors: heavy citrus blast of lemon, lime, and orange

　　

Step 3

Body: medium, crisp

　　

Step 4

Dryness: dry to medium

　　

Step 5

Complexity: low, one dimensional

　　

Step 6

Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: cranberry adds slight tannins against citrus

　　

Step 7

Finish: long, dry, acid with slight bitter orange overtones

　　

Step 8

Glass: cocktail

　　Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.