Valentines is only a few days away and my cocktail suggestion this year is the Contemporary Classic, the Cosmopolitan, which according to the IBA (International Bartenders Association) is a cocktail made with Vodka Citron (lemon flavoured vodka), Cointreau (orange liqueur), Cranberry Juice, and freshly squeezed Lime Juice.
The serving is by no means consistent, and if you order a Cosmo (as the bar drink is frequently referred to) you will most likely receive a variation on the recipe usually using an unflavoured vodka, a sweetener, Cranberry juice and lime juice. An orange peel garnish is also quite popular, (the IBA formulation states a lime slice garnish).
Like most home bartenders, I do not have a ready supply of Vodka Citron, nor a suitable substitute in my home bar. However, I wanted to build my Valentine’s Cosmopolitan with a light influence of lemon flavour as in the official IBA formulation. I did this by using a recently acquired bottle of Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka and tweaking the recipe with a touch of lemon juice while decreasing the lime juice by the same amount. I decided that for Valentine’s Day a raspberry garnish would be an interesting twist.
Here is my Valentine recipe (built for two) of the Contemporary Classic Cocktail!
Valentine’s Cosmopolitan for Two
3 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
1 1/4 oz Cointreau
1 1/4 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz Lime juice
1/4 oz Lemon juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio)
Fresh Raspberries
Add the first six Ingredients into a cocktail Shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Strain the cocktail into two matching chilled glasses
Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Note: If you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day
Chimo!
I am asked by my friends how it is that I can create so many cocktails for them to enjoy when they attend my private tastings. The answer is simple, I stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before me. (Yes, that is an homage to a Stephen Hawkins reference for those who are astute enough to recognize it). What I mean by standing on the shoulders of giants, is that many of my ‘original’ recipes are built upon the platform of other well-known bar drinks and cocktails. These ‘classic’ cocktails have stood the test of time, and by building upon them, I can arrive at new creations many of which I share here.
Like most home bartenders, I do not have a ready supply of Vodka Citron, nor a suitable lemon vodka substitute in my home bar. However, I wanted to construct a Cosmopolitan which would be similar to the IBA formulation. I did this using my newly acquired Big Rig Premium Vodka, and tweaking the recipe by adding a touch of lemon juice and decreasing the lime juice by the same amount. I tried different garnishes, and decided that orange peel seemed to suit the overall flavour profile of the serving (the IBA formulation states a lime slice garnish).
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