Cosmopolitan

Author Notes

My bartender R said to me one night, "The cosmo is an underrated drink." In that moment I realized I had never actually tasted one. My mind, of course, went to Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and the City, but after some research (and fieldwork) at various bars across town, I learned that when made well—and most importantly, with a frugal pour of cranberry juice—the cosmopolitan cocktail can be quite a refreshing drink. People see pink and just assume that it must be overly sweet, but that's not the case; cranberries are tart, as are limes.

The proportions below are what I believe to be the best cosmopolitan recipe, resulting in the most gorgeous cloudy pink color—though, asking various bartenders these past few weeks how they like to make their cosmos (again, research), I learned that it's really just a matter of taste. R, for instance, mixes up an even drier cosmopolitan with 1/2 ounce cranberry. His colleague P does less vodka and lime. I've had one at Beauty Bar—where I love to get the $10 martini and manicure deal, and where they apparently filmed an episode or two of Sex and the City back in the day, appropriately—that tasted significantly boozier and less acidic than any of these.

All are delicious, so start with this one and tweak the amounts according to your own personal preferences. As with a martini, the best cosmopolitan is the one you like. —Eric Kim

Test Kitchen Notes

Featured in: Why I Love Going to Bars Alone. —The Editors