A hallmark of the Nineties, early Noughties, and of course Sex and the City, you’re likely well acquainted with The Cosmo, which fell out of favour along with our Juicy Couture tracksuit bottoms long ago.
According to drinks expert Amanda Schuster (grab a copy of her new book Signature Cocktails, published by Phaidon), the cocktail began as a mix of vodka, Rose’s lime cordial and grenadine in San Francisco clubs but was picked up and refined by Toby Cecchini in New York’s Odeon in 1988. Tart with a hint of balancing sweetness, his more palatable version featured just-released Absolut Citron with fresh lime juice, Cointreau, cranberry cocktail and a lemon twist, shaken with ice and served in a Martini glass. Soon, it’s said Madonna was saddling up to the bar begging Cecchini for more and the rest is, of course, history.
Now, like those Juicy joggers, you’ll find the Cosmopolitan cropping up all over town once again. At The Stratford’s American Bar, it’s served close to the classic, made with Absolut Elyx (copper distilled vodka), Cointreau, cranberry and lime juice, while at Christina’s cranberry is swapped out for zingy rosehip, with the addition of tangy seaberry vodka.
At rooftop bar Flute, a mix of savoury Umami Gin, lemongrass, berries, shiso and cacao is served in a clunky mug to eviscerate all nostalgia, and across town at Three Sheets, the team serves up a clean, slightly sour take, featuring cherry cordial.
Meanwhile, at recently resurrected seafood stalwart Manzi’s, the Seabreeze is the OG amped up with manzanilla & PX sherry, clarified grapefruit juice and crémant rosé, and at Sketch, Martino Franchi throws tradition to the wind with The Cospolitalicus, made with Grey Goose Orange, Italicus, Chambord, hibiscus and lime.
Now all we’re missing is smoking indoors. Just kidding, ew.
