The year is on its way to being over, which means there’s cause for celebration with a Christmas cocktail. Sit down with your cookies, pie, or whatever else waits for you in the kitchen, mix up this winter-spiced cranberry version of a Cosmopolitan, and relax. You deserve a cocktail, Christmas or not.
History of the Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan cocktail, often called the “Cosmo,” is a relatively modern drink with an interesting history that traces back to the 1980s. While it’s now a staple of trendy bars and has been popularized in various cultural touchpoints (especially the TV show Sex and the City), its exact origins remain somewhat unclear, with multiple claims to its invention. The most widely accepted story is that Cheryl Cook, a bartender at The Strand in Miami in the mid-1980s, invented the Cosmopolitan. According to Cook, she created the drink when trying to come up with a cocktail that was both visually appealing and more sophisticated than the sugary drinks that were popular at the time. This Christmas cocktail version of it adds a little extra holiday cheer.
Charisma-Politan Cocktail Recipe
Description
A cranberry-infused version of a Cosmopolitan for the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- Lime wedge, to garnish
Instructions
For the Syrup
- Add one cup of water and two cinnamon sticks to a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then stir in one cup of sugar until fully dissolved.
- Bottle and store in the fridge.
For the Cocktail
- Add ingredients to a shaker, then shake with ice.
- Strain into a coupe or rocks glass (whatever your preference) and garnish with a lime wedge.
- Enjoy!
Recipe by Maggie Weaver / Photography by Dave Bryce
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
