The TV show Sex and the City can be credited with making Cosmopolitan popular around the world, as it was a signature drink of the main characters.
The pink, vodka-based cocktail became popular in the 1990s. Its exact origins are still debated, and the current form of Cosmopolitan has evolved from earlier drinks, with key contributions from several bartenders.
Bartender Cheryl Cook in Miami is often credited with creating an early version of the Cosmopolitan in the mid-1980s. She reportedly combined Absolut Citron vodka, triple sec, Rose’s lime juice, and cranberry juice, aiming for a drink that was both sophisticated and appealing to a modern palate.
In the early 1990s, Toby Cecchini, working at The Odeon in New York, refined the recipe by using fresh lime juice instead of Rose’s and emphasizing a balanced, elegant taste.
Modern Cosmopolitan is recognized as a classic cocktail, with variations using different types of vodka, orange liqueur, and citrus juices. It’s known for its refreshing taste and vibrant pink colour, achieved through cranberry juice.
The exact origins of the Cosmopolitan (aka the Cosmo) are not verified. Some trace it back to the mid-1970s in Golden Valley, Minneapolis, while others say it was invented in South Beach, Florida during the mid-1980s.
Some trace it back to 1968 when the Ocean Spray cranberry juice brand was looking for ways to inspire adults to drink their juice. They simply added a drink recipe to their juice cartons. The cocktail was called Harpoon and it consisted of Ocean Spray cranberry juice, vodka (or rum), lime cordial and soda.
Another record of the origin of the Cosmopolitan cocktail goes back to the 1930s, even though most people know the modern version with vodka, cranberry juice, lime, and triple sec. In 2006, bartender Joerg Meyer discovered an old 1934 gin cocktail recipe in a book found through a blog by drink experts Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown. That early version of the Cosmo was a gin-based “daisy” cocktail, sweetened with raspberry syrup, which gave it a pink colour, just like today’s version.
You can enjoy your favourite Cosmopolitan cocktail at Mr. India Restaurant and Bar anytime. Call 604-870-4898 for reservations. Visit our menu for more information.
