Cosmopolitan Cocktail: Immortalized in Sex and The City – Unveiling Its Origin

The Birth of a Global Icon

Have you ever heard of the Cosmopolitan cocktail? The history of the Cosmopolitan, a drink immortalized in Sex and The City, has many variations, and the credits for its creation are fiercely contested.

According to bartender Paul Harrington, the Cosmopolitan originated in the 1970s, crafted by various independent bartenders. However, Sally Ann Berk and Bob Sennett claim that the Cosmopolitan was created in New York around 1993, as documented in literature.

If you want to know more, read on to explore the intriguing history of the Cosmopolitan or Cosmo, as it is commonly called. At the end of this article, you’ll find links to the best Cosmopolitan recipes.

The First Appearance of the Cosmopolitan

Although many argue that the creation of the Cosmopolitan is more modern (around 1970, as mentioned earlier), there is a recipe for what could be considered the first version. This version was published in “Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars 1903-1933,” a work from 1934. The recipe suggests that the Cosmopolitan comprised a shot of gin, a light touch of Cointreau, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup.

If this is indeed the true story, one could say that the Cosmopolitan is a variation of the Brandy Daisy rather than the widely circulated belief that it originated from the Kamikaze cocktail.

Cosmopolitan Created by the Provincetown Gay Community

Many claim that the Cosmopolitan emerged in 1970 in Provincetown, spreading quickly within the Gay community and reaching various American cities, including New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and eventually San Francisco.

Neal Murray Claims Cosmopolitan Credits

Among those asserting to be the creator of the Cosmopolitan, bartender Neal Murray stands out. He declares himself the inventor of the Cosmopolitan, stating that he made the drink at Cork & Cleaver steakhouse in Minneapolis in 1975. According to Murray, he added cranberry juice to a Kamikaze cocktail and served it.

An interesting fact about the name, as Neal recounts, the first person to taste the mixture exclaimed, “How cosmopolitan!” Supposedly, that’s how the Cosmopolitan cocktail got its name.

Historian Attributes Cosmopolitan’s Creation to Cheryl Cook

Historian Gary Regan, specialized in cocktail history, attributes the creation of the Cosmopolitan to Cheryl Cook, a bartender at Strand restaurant in South Beach, Florida. Despite many considering Cook a myth, she recounts in a letter how she created the drink in 1985/1986.

Melissa Huffsmith’s Significant Role

Melissa Huffsmith also played a crucial role in the creation of the Cosmopolitan. According to the story, in 1985, at the Life Cafe restaurant in Manhattan where Melissa worked, her friend Patrick Mitten showed her a recipe he learned at The Patio Cafe in San Francisco.

It was only in 1986/87, while working at The Odeon, that Huffsmith created her version using Absolut Citron, Cointreau, and lemon juice. According to her, the color should be “…just pink—like pink lemonade.” Eventually, Huffsmith’s slightly different version became an internationally recognized standard method for preparing the Cosmopolitan.

Toby Cecchini Relies on Cheryl Cook’s Version

After many versions, bartender Gaz Regan claims that the internationally recognized version of the Cosmopolitan was the work of Toby Cecchini, created in Manhattan in 1987. According to the story, Toby based his version on a simpler version created by Cheryl Cook.

What’s the Correct Version of the Cosmopolitan’s Origin?

So, what is the correct version of the Cosmopolitan’s history? As common in the world of mixology, there are numerous versions of the Cosmopolitan’s origin story, many rumors, and people claiming to be its creators. However, one thing is certain: the Cosmopolitan gained fame worldwide in the 1990s.

How Did the Cosmopolitan Become Popular?

The Cosmopolitan gained even more notoriety during the 1990s, becoming popular among young people of the time. The Cosmo, as it was nicknamed, was frequently featured in the TV series Sex and The City.

According to the series narrative, the character Carrie, played by Sarah J. Parker, often ordered the drink on casual dates.

Cosmopolitan in Sex and The City

In the movie adaptation of the series, a reference to the drink’s fame occurs when the character Miranda asks her friends why they stopped drinking the cocktail, and Carrie responds, “because everyone started.”

Indeed, the Cosmo didn’t just influence television culture; the Demeter Fragrance Library, an organization that sells fragrances, even created a cologne to capture the scent of a Cosmopolitan cocktail.

Conclusion

The Cosmo is a success, whether through the influence of Sex and The City or its visual appeal. Everyone agrees it’s a classic drink that has come to shine in city bars. So, take this opportunity to explore the Cosmopolitan recipe and try the alcohol-free version of the Cosmopolitan.

If you enjoyed this story of the origin of the Cosmopolitan, share it with friends and leave your comments. Tell us about your experience and any variations you’ve tried!