The origin of the first Cosmopolitan cocktail has been a topic of debate among cocktail historians. While there are a few different claims, two prominent stories have emerged.
According to Sally Ann Berk and Bob Sennett, the cosmopolitan first appeared in literature in 1993 and is said to have originated in New York City. However, another story credits a bartender named Patrick “Paddy” Mitten with bringing the drink to New York City from San Francisco in October 1987.
Paddy Mitten's account of the Cosmopolitan's creation goes back to the late 1970s when he was working at The Strand, a popular gay bar in San Francisco. He claims to have created the cocktail as a twist on the Kamikaze, a drink made with vodka, triple sec, and lime juice. Mitten replaced the lime juice with cranberry juice and added a splash of Rose's Lime Cordial to give it a more complex flavor profile.
Mitten's version of the Cosmopolitan gained popularity among the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco and eventually caught the attention of a bartender named Toby Cecchini. Cecchini, who was working at The Odeon in New York City at the time, tasted the drink and was inspired to recreate it for the New York crowd.
In 1987, Toby Cecchini introduced his version of the Cosmopolitan at The Odeon, a trendy restaurant and bar in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. The drink quickly gained popularity among the fashion and media industry, becoming a symbol of the glamorous New York City lifestyle.
The Cosmopolitan's rise to fame can be attributed to its association with the television show “Sex and the City.” The show, which premiered in 1998, featured the Cosmopolitan as the signature drink of the main characters and helped popularize it globally. The cocktail's pink color and sweet-tart taste appealed to a wide audience, making it a favorite choice for many cocktail enthusiasts.
While there may be some discrepancies in the exact timeline and origin of the Cosmopolitan, it is clear that it gained significant popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, it remains a classic cocktail that continues to be enjoyed by many around the world.
The first Cosmopolitan cocktail is believed to have been created by bartender Patrick “Paddy” Mitten in San Francisco in the late 1970s. It was later popularized by bartender Toby Cecchini at The Odeon in New York City in 1987. The cocktail's association with “Sex and the City” further contributed to its global fame.