Drink

It’s not as easy to pinpoint the true origin of the delectable Cosmopolitan, as it is recognizing the fame it received from TV show Sex and the City. Undoubtedly, the drink rose to fame not solely from television exposure or flavor, but its simple and classic name insinuating sophistication and glamour. To request a Cosmopolitan is also quite a statement, almost to say, “I am cosmopolitan”—a citizen of the world. Who wouldn’t want to have one in hand?

The Cosmopolitan reaches back to the late 70s, in San Francisco’s Fern Bars. Up-scale establishments for the in-crowd, they were decorated with ferns and other elaborate plants. They were places to see, and be seen. Although, it’s been said that the ferns were strategically placed to hide inside activities from outside on-lookers as the gay movement boomed. Making its way across the US, other Cosmo versions emerged from Miami and Manhattan in the late 80s, before going global.

Today’s recipe traditionally served in a martini glass consists of 4cl of lemon-flavored vodka, 1.5cl of Cointreau, 1.5cl of fresh limejuice and 3cl of cranberry juice—not the easiest ingredient to find in Barcelona. One Raval bar called Negroni at number 46 on Joaquin Costa uses the classic OceanSpray brand Cranberry juice, a key element of the Cosmo’s distinct flavor.

Base ingredients usually remain the same regardless of the establishment, while elegant garnishes can

vary between a wedge of lime to a finely sliced orange. Variations are uncommon, however a new player on the field is the Black Cosmo, sporting Eristoff Black, a fruits of the forest flavored black Vodka.