Cosmopolitan (Cosmo)

The COSMOPOLITAN martini, or “Cosmo”, can vary from bar to bar. If you know what you like in the Cosmo, you can usually request it be made that way. If you don’t know what you like, the establishment’s mix might disappoint you. So it’s in our best interest to know what we like in our Cosmo. Here’s my recommendation, which has been influenced more or less (they use a dash of Rose instead of Citron Vodka) from the 1796 Room Restaurant at the Omni Bedford Springs Hotel in Bedford, PA. I’d go with this recipe:

• 3 oz. (2 jiggers) vodka
• 1.5 oz. Cointreau
• 3 oz. cranberry juice
• .75 citron vodka
• 1/2 lime juice and lime wheel for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add liquid ingredients. Shake for 10-15 seconds until the shaker is frosty on the outside. Strain into a martini glass. Drop a slice of lime into drink.

Comments: The cranberry juice used should be the standard original, not the unsweetened, and should be slightly less in proportion than the amount of vodka to prevent being overly sweet. The color should be pink, not red. Also, citron vodka adds a layer that makes it special, but it’s better to add less than more — too much will make the Cosmo too sweet. The right balance between sweet and tart is the trick.