Mixology at Home - Cosmopolitan

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Today, we celebrate a truly American cocktail, the Cosmopolitan. The Cosmopolitan is a popular drink that has been around for about 50 years. There’s even a day for it, May 7.

Like most cocktails, the origin of the Cosmopolitan is hazy. It dates to the 1970s in Provincetown, a quirky little community on Cape Cod. Some dispute that, saying it first showed up in South Beach, Florida, or at a bar in Minnesota. Who knows.

In the 1930s, there was a similar drink using gin that was called the Cosmo Daisy (recipe is below).

The cocktail faded from popularity for a while but then “Sex in the City” gave the drink renewed life.

Surprisingly, I’ve never made one, even though it is an extremely easy drink to make. Maybe because it is a little on the mild side. I like my drinks spirit forward.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz vodka (I use Vodka Citron, a lemon-flavored vodka)

1 oz cranberry juice (I like cran-pomegranate myself)

1/2 oz Cointreau (you can substitute Triple Sec)

1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Lemon wheel for garnish

Directions: In a shaker with ice, add vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau and lime juice, and shake to chill. Then strain it into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wheel or an orange peel.

You can make your own lemon-flavored vodka if you can’t find Vodka Citron. Put lemon peels in a jar with vodka, seal it, shake vigorously and then let it brew for a week or longer, depending upon your taste. The longer it brews, the stronger the lemon flavor. Once it is done, discard the lemon peels and strain the infused vodka through a fine mesh strainer.

This recipe is for 705 ml, an average bottle of vodka, and a half of cup of lemon peel, without the pith. That’s a lot so you might want to cut that in half or even a quarter.

The Cosmo Daisy

Use one and a half ounces of gin, a half ounce of Cointreau, lemon juice and a teaspoon of raspberry syrup.

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