May 7 is National Cosmopolitan Day. Better known as the “Cosmo,” the drink is a combination of vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice.
There are slight variations on the recipe (I like mine with some orange liquor as well) but a vodka drink devised in 1987 by bartender, Toby Cecchini is the one that we associate with the modern day Cosmo.
May is a month full of national days devoted to all sorts of food. Check out the full list of May national food days here.
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Fun facts about the Cosmopolitan
Brush up on your knowledge of the Cosmopolitan with these fun facts. Some may surprise you!
- The roots of the Cosmopolitan came from a drink called the Daisy from the 1930’s. This version had gin, cointreau, lemon juice and raspberry syrup. Similar but sweeter than our Cosmo.
- The Cosmo was popularized by the movie Sex and the City, since it was a favorite drink of the actors in the series.
- Before Carrie Bradshaw and friends enjoyed the drink, it was enjoyed by Madonna and other celebrities.
- In the 1960’s a recipe for a cocktail on Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Bottles was called the “harpoon.”
- Even though Tony Cecchini is often credited as the creator of the Cosmo, the history is rather murky. Some think the origins go back to late 19th century.
- National Cosmopolitan Day was coined by freelance author Jace Shoe-Maker Galloway.
How to celebrate National Cosmopolitan Day
Would you like to celebrate National Cosmopolitan Day in a special way? Try one of the ideas below to celebrate this national cocktail day.
- Spread the word on social media using the hashtag #nationalcosmopolitanday.
- Have a marathon of Sex and the City with your friends while drinking Cosmopolitans.
- Invite friends over for brunch and whip up some cosmopolitans.
- Go out to your favorite bar, and ask the bartender to make you a Cosmo!
- Cranberry juice is one of the main ingredients in this drink – so use today to learn more about it by reading some cranberry facts, or trying a cranberry recipe!
Cosmopolitan recipe
This recipe is a bit of a change up from the original, but I like the deep color that adding orange liquor adds to the drink.
More national days in May
There are close to 2000 national days in the year and over 150 of them are celebrated in May. Be sure to check out this post to discover more about the national days in May.
Be sure to also check out these alcohol inspired national days:
- National Irish Coffee Day
- National Mimosa Day
- National Mint Julep Day
- National Martini Day
- National Cocktail Day
- National Beer Day
- National Pina Colada Day
- National Mojito Day
- National Prosecco Day
Pin this post for National Cosmopolitan Day for later
Would you like a reminder of this post for National Cosmopolitan Day? Just pin this image to one of your cocktail boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
Patriotic Cosmopolitan
This pretty patriotic cosmopolitan would be perfect for either Memorial Day or the 4th of July. Get the recipe here.
Pin this classic cosmo for later
Of course the best way to celebrate the day is by making the classic Cosmo!
Would you like a reminder of this post for National Cosmopolitan Day? Just pin this image to one of your cocktail boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
Watch our YouTube video to learn about more national food and drink days in May.
Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in May of 2019. I have updated the post to add new photos and a printable recipe card.
The Classic Cosmo
The classic cosmo is a drink made popular by the ladies on Sex and the City. The drink is cheery and easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz orange liquor
- a splash of cranberry juice
- a splash of lime juice
- ice
Instructions
- chill a martini glass with cold water and ice while you make the drink.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the ingredients.
- Shake very well.
- Empty the water and ice from the chilled glass.
- Pour in the prepared drink and enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.