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And just like that, the Cosmo is back.
About the cocktail
She’s zesty, vibrant and dashingly pink. Not too tart, but not sickly sweet either, the Cosmopolitan is an all-time classic. Some may roll their eyes with a cliched muttering around ‘pretty pink drinks’, but the truth is, this blush-coloured beverage has long been in vogue for one (Mr) big reason… It tastes bloody good. Word is, the Cosmo was first created at a Miami bar called The Strand in 1985 by bartender Cheryl Cook. Some argue it was dreamed up by Toby Cecchini at New York’s Odeon, others reckon it was Dale DeGroff at NYC’s Rainbow Room. Regardless of its origin story, the Cosmo strutted its way into popularity in the ’90s as the Sex and the City girls’ drink du jour. There's no denying the SATC ladies haute couture level of taste, as this magenta marvel proves. But there’s zero need to be donning Manolo Blahnik or Oscar de la Renta to enjoy the Zero%* Cosmo's main-character energy. Practising a little moderation these days or simply after a classic bev sans the booziness? We couldn’t help but wonder (wink, wink) if our take on the charismatic Cosmo wasn’t in fact the perfect mocktail for today's throwback to all things ’90s.
Ingredients
45ml non-alcoholic white spirit
15ml non-alcoholic orange liqueur
10ml lime juice 30ml cranberry juice
5ml white sugar syrup
Garnish: orange zest
Method
Add all liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker Add ice and shake vigorously Strain into a martini or coupe glass Garnish with a flamed orange zest
Dan's top tip
For a slightly lighter take on a traditional Cosmo, this tangy beauty is Zero%* alc, but 100% lip-smacking flavour. For maximum freshness, pop your glasses in the freezer at least 30 minutes before you start mixing up your mocktail. Start with a base of non-alcoholic white spirit, like Banks Botanicals, for a sophisticated character, then add your non-alcoholic orange liqueur (our favourite is Lyre's). The addition of zippy fresh lime juice, Bickford's cranberry juice and white Cawsey's Sugar Syrup will see the sweet and sour elements perfectly aligned, and your tastebuds will agree this Cosmo is OG level good, if not better. Our hot tip for the grand finale? When cutting your orange zest, aim for a thin peel that avoids too much pith. This adds an excessive bitterness to your drink and won’t flame as effectively when expressed. This will keep any excess bitterness at bay and guarantee a sultry spark when it comes to garnishing. Hold the peel over a lit match or lighter to warm up all those aromatic juices, then give it a little squeeze across the flame. And just like that, you have yourself a delicious rosy-pink drink to salute any occasion, even if it’s simply watching reruns of ’90s classics. *Clink*
image credits: Alex Drewniak (photography), Bridget Wald (styling).
