Drinkers have an abundance of menu options to consider when ordering drinks from bars and lounges. What type of drink tickles your fancy based on your taste buds? The most popular cocktails of all time include old fashioneds, mai tais, margaritas, mojitos, and martinis. Drinkers might argue that none of these beloved cocktails hold a candle to the cosmopolitan. The cosmopolitan is a well-known drink that shares a name with a breathtaking casino on the glittering Las Vegas strip.
The cosmopolitan has been referenced many times in major movies and TV shows as well. It belongs on menus of the most upscale restaurant options anyone can think of. Typically, bartenders don’t get creative when it comes to garnishing their cosmopolitans, but the garnishes chosen always add the right level of visual flair. Keep in mind that you’ll never go wrong when ordering a cosmopolitan if you’re hoping to showcase your classy side.
Since cosmopolitans have been around for decades, the recipe has been perfected from the first time it was initially introduced. The delectable ingredients that make a cosmopolitan are top-of-the-line, which means just about anyone of legal age to drink has a high chance of enjoying this particular beverage. (On the topic of alcoholic drinks, uncover the most popular cocktails in every single state across America.)
To come up with this list of 15 facts you should know about the cosmopolitan, 24/7 Tempo consulted several food-centered sources. These sources include Mashed, Tasting Table, Inspired Taste, The Spruce Eats, and Wine Enthusiast.
A bartender named Toby Cecchini invented the cosmopolitan as we know it today
The history of the cosmopolitan is almost as interesting as the drink itself. Back in the 1930s, a cocktail known as the Cosmopolitan 1934 (or the Cosmo) began circulating thanks to an unknown and creative individual. Lemon, gin, and Cointreau were combined to concoct the divine cocktail at the time.
Raspberry syrup was added for the allure of the pretty pink tint. Years later in the 1980s, a bartender named Toby Cecchini continued spreading the magic of the cosmopolitan in New York City. Before the ’80s came to an end, he concocted the cranberry juice and vodka version of the cosmopolitan that people know and love today.
Cosmopolitans are made with 5 key ingredients
A delicious cosmopolitan cocktail is made of five crucial ingredients. Without these five key ingredients, the cocktail simply won’t turn out the way it’s supposed to. For starters, you’ll need plain vodka. Some drinkers opt for flavored vodka in their cosmopolitans, but you certainly don’t have to based on the other ingredients that are part of the lineup.
Next up, Cointreau or triple sec is a requirement. In order to make sure the cocktail showcases a stunning pink color, cranberry juice or raspberry syrup is the next ingredient needed. After that, you can’t forget fresh lime juice for a more tangy result. The fifth and final ingredient is the garnish that goes on top.
Cosmopolitans are often made with citrus garnishes
Citrus garnishes belong on top of cosmopolitans. While it’s true that people can order cosmopolitans with maraschino cherries on top, that isn’t the traditional way to go about things. Classic cosmopolitans come together with citrus garnishes that had the right touch of refreshing tanginess.
Lemon wedges are incredibly common on cosmopolitans, but so are mouthwatering lime wedges. Another awesome option to choose would be an orange wedge. Tons of bartenders who love getting colorful and creative will add all three varied wedges to the rim of a cosmopolitan for added flair.
Cosmopolitans are mentioned in movies and TV shows
The late ’90s and early 2000s was an incredible era for TV lovers since “Sex and the City” was coming out with new episodes to watch. Characters like Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, would order cosmopolitan on screen in nightlife scenes. Other major TV shows to mention cosmopolitans include “Dawson’s Creek,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and “The Mindy Project.”
“Love Happens” is another movie that calls attention to the alcoholic beverage. The mention of cosmopolitan “Sex and the City” alone made a huge impact on the popularity of the drink. Women who resonated with the characters of the show love to connect with them in the real world by ordering cosmopolitans from bars and lounges.
The cosmopolitan shares a name with a popular women’s lifestyle magazine
When people mention cosmopolitan cocktails, these drinks are not meant to be confused with the women’s lifestyle magazine of the same name. Cosmopolitan is a brilliant magazine that issued its first publication in 1886. It’s been around for centuries as a literary magazine full of articles and photos that serve women’s interests.
Some of the topics covered in the magazine pages of Cosmopolitan include upcoming movies and TV shows, relationship advice, beauty tips, and fashion insights. Back in the day, Cosmopolitan would release new magazines every single month. These days, they print new magazines quarterly.
The cosmopolitan also shares a name with a popular Las Vegas casino
Would a trip to the sparkling city of Las Vegas make sense without stopping at the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino? There are loads of beautiful hotels and casinos to admire on the Las Vegas strip, but the Cosmopolitan is special in its own right. This particular casino also happens to share a name with the beloved cocktail.
The casino has much to offer including a chandelier bar, a state-of-the-art fitness center, several decadent restaurants, and wall-length mirrors in the lobby where people can stop to take photos. The slot machines for gamblers are spread out across the casino floor in an elegant way with cocktail waitresses everywhere as well.
Some bartenders are annoyed by cosmopolitan drink orders
If you don’t want to get on your bartender’s bad side, you might think twice before ordering a cosmopolitan. Over the years, bartenders have been open and honest about their frustrations with cosmopolitans. In some cases, bartenders will simply say they can’t make cosmopolitans to avoid dealing with the stress of it all.
Bartenders who truly care about authentic drinks are occasionally annoyed by customers who ask for cosmopolitan made with flavored vodka. Since flavored vodka is artificial, it takes away from the authenticity of a true cocktail. Another reason bartenders might get annoyed making cosmopolitans is how unoriginal they are. Bartenders who’ve made them so many times think the drink has become redundant and boring.
Cosmopolitans typically cost $6 to $14
You certainly won’t be breaking the bank by ordering a cosmopolitan from your local bar or lounge. That’s because the price point for a cosmopolitan typically rages anywhere from $6 to $14. As a reminder, the price point always depends on where you ordering your drink from.
If you’re at an upscale restaurant or ritzy speakeasy, there’s a chance your cosmopolitan will cost way more than $14. Simply requesting a physical menu to look at before ordering drinks will prevent you from overspending if you’re confused about final costs.
Joe Jackson recorded a song in honor of cosmopolitans
If someone’s willing to write a song about you, it means they have a lot of admiration and respect for you. One talented musician wrote a song about cosmopolitans in the early ’80s. His song made it obvious that the cosmopolitan is the type of cocktail that’s provided a sense of warmth to music lovers and alcohol drinkers everywhere.
“Cosmopolitan” is a song by Joe Jackson that was released in 1983. In the song, Jackson sings about being as free as a cosmopolitan with no one being able to touch him. He goes on to sing about no one interrupting his sleep or keeping him from moving forward in life.
Cosmopolitans have less alcohol by volume than margaritas
Before ordering a cosmopolitan from a bartender, it’s in your best interest to find out if it has the right amount of alcohol by volume for you. If you’re looking to achieve a light buzz, this insight will be a game-changer. For example, cosmopolitans have much less alcohol than margaritas. Since plenty of people compare margaritas and cosmopolitans when making final decisions on cocktails, this knowledge is crucial. Cosmopolitans have 16.5% alcohol by volume while margaritas have 22.5% in comparison.
Cosmopolitans have more alcohol by volume than bloody marys
You’ll definitely get more alcohol in a margarita than a cosmopolitan, but what about a bloody mary? Another drink comparison to make before ordering your drink of choice is between the cosmopolitan and the bloody mary. If you’re hoping to get more bang for your buck based on alcohol by volume, you’ll get much further with a cosmopolitan. That’s because a cosmopolitan has 16.5% alcohol by volume while a bloody mary only has 12%.
National Cosmopolitan Day is celebrated May 7
Mark your calendar for May 7 every year. That’s the day when National Cosmopolitan Day is celebrated by the masses. Find out if your local bars and lounges are offering discounts for cosmopolitans on May 7 so you can save a little money on the divine cocktail.
Plenty of cocktails have their own special holidays. March 3 is National Moscow Mule Day. April 9 is National Gin and Tonic Day. June 30 is National Mai Tai Day. Regardless of all the other cocktail holidays on the calendar, May 7 will forever be reserved for cosmopolitans.
Cosmopolitans were always meant to be sweet and tangy
There shouldn’t be any confusion about the flavor of a cosmopolitan. Cosmopolitans were always meant to be sweet and tangy. Cocktails that aren’t meant to be sweet include white wine spritzers, dirty martinis, and old fashioneds. None of those cocktails have a hint of sweetness to them, which means they’re usually only ordered by folks who genuinely love the taste of alcohol.
Drinkers who preferred to hide the distinct and powerful taste of alcohol will often try to sweeten it up a bit with juices and garnishes. The ingredients that come together for cosmopolitans flawlessly hide the taste of alcohol for drinkers who don’t particularly appreciate the taste of alcohol on its own.
Cosmopolitans have a reputation for being ‘girly’ drinks
As of now, cosmopolitans have a reputation for being “girly” drinks. One of the biggest reasons for this is likely the fact that the drink was referenced so many times on “Sex and the City.” Since “Sex and the City” is such a feminine show to watch, the association of the drink with feminity makes sense.
Another reason? The drink is often served a pink color due to the raspberry syrup or cranberry juice. Regardless of the reputation that cosmopolitans have, plenty of men still order the drink when they’re out. The flavor of a cosmopolitan is still worthwhile to customers of both genders.
The name ‘cosmopolitan’ is often misspelled
Some people might not have issues spelling the word “cosmopolitan,” but that’s not the case for everyone. This is a cocktail that is often misspelled by people all over the globe. One common misspelling of this cocktail is “cosmapolitan.” Another common misspelling is “cosmopoloton.”
The vowels in the cocktail name are easy occasionally to confuse for folks who aren’t paying attention. Aside from its spelling, there’s much to love about cosmopolitans. There are several other alcoholic beverages to celebrate beyond the cosmopolitan as well. Click here to uncover the top 25 most popular cocktails in the entire world.