The Cosmopolitan, with its vibrant pink color and tangy taste, has become a veritable icon of cocktail culture. Popularized in the 90s, notably thanks to the TV series “Sex and the City”, this cocktail continues to seduce palates with its elegance and complexity. But where exactly does it come from?
Unfortunately, the history of the Cosmopolitan is shrouded in mystery and many claims. Several bartenders dispute the paternity of this iconic cocktail. Here are some of the most popular theories:
1. Cheryl Cook, South Beach’s Martini Queen
According to the most popular version, the Cosmopolitan was created by Cheryl Cook, a barmaid in South Beach, Miami, in the mid-1980s. She was inspired by the number of people ordering Martinis solely to “be seen with the glass in their hand”. Her aim was to create a visually appealing cocktail that would appeal particularly to women. She would combine lemon vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice to achieve her signature pink hue.
2. Toby Cecchini and the “modern” Cosmopolitan
Toby Cecchini, a New York bartender, claims to have created the “modern” version of the Cosmopolitan in 1988, while working at The Odeon restaurant in Manhattan. He is said to have taken a vague recipe from San Francisco and improved it using Absolut Citron vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and higher-quality cranberry juice.
3. Neal Murray and the “How Cosmopolitan!”
Another version attributes the creation of the Cosmopolitan to Neal Murray, a Minneapolis bartender who mixed a variant of the Kamikaze with cranberry juice in 1975. The first person to taste this new cocktail is said to have exclaimed “How Cosmopolitan!”, thus giving the drink its name.
A complex heritage
Whatever its exact origin, the Cosmopolitan was a runaway success, becoming a symbol of the 90s and a timeless classic. It has also inspired numerous variations, such as the White Cosmopolitan (with St-Germain instead of Cointreau) and gin-based versions.
Today, the Cosmopolitan remains a popular choice in bars around the world. Its history, though unclear, adds a touch of mystery and intrigue to this already iconic cocktail.