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!
Holiday Cosmo
When I mixed a small batch for myself, I found the serving quite tasty, although perhaps it goes down just a little too easily. Make sure when you share this recipe with your friends that advise them to enjoy responsibly and choose a designated driver ahead of time for the ride home.
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