Fans all over the world are awaiting the second season of the 'Sex and the City' revival, 'And Just Like That,' with viewers eager to see what their favourite characters have been up to.
One of the most iconic things that the show gave to pop culture was the newfound love of the cosmopolitan. A cosmopolitan is a divine mixture of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
References from the tv show have influenced culture to this day, with Google searches for 'Cosmopolitan Recipe' increasing 92 percent in the past seven days alone.
To celebrate the launch of the new series, here are the top cocktails to serve guests, making them feel like they are in New York.
Cosmopolitan:
Very few cocktails are as instantly recognisable as the Cosmo. It was first created in 1975 and became its own during the 1990s. The cosmopolitan is neither overly sweet nor too tart, and perfect for impressing guests.
Ingredients:
(serves one)
- 35ml of vodka
- 15ml of triple sec OR orange liqueur
- 20ml of cranberry juice
- 10ml of fresh lime juice
- Ice
- One orange (optional for garnish)
Method:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold
- Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve with an orange zest for garnish.
Manhattan
In a show so synonymous with the city of Manhattan, it goes without saying that this iconic drink made its fair share of appearances throughout the six seasons, with PR socialite Samantha Jones ordering the tipple on several occasions.
Created in the 1800s and named after the bar it was first developed in, the cocktail remains a firm favourite amongst whiskey drinkers to this day.
Ingredients:
(serves one)
- 60ml of rye whiskey
- 30ml of sweet vermouth
- Two dashes of Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Method:
- Fill a pint glass with ice
- Add rye whiskey, vermouth and bitters, then stir well
- Strain into a chilled glass and add optional garnish
Ruby
The 'Ruby' cocktail was referenced in season 4, episode 12 of the show titled 'Just Say Yes', as Carrie and Samantha sit in the New York bar and discuss her engagement to Aidan.
Interestingly, the show's version of the drink was created by the Florida Citrus Commission in order to boost sales of the Florida grapefruit and to act as somewhat of a replacement or alternative to their longstanding favourite, the cosmopolitan.
Ingredients:
(serves one)
- 45ml of Vodka
- 30ml of triple sec
- 30ml freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
- 7.5ml of sugar syrup
- Ice
- Optional garnish of choice (grapefruit slice, orange peer etc.)
Method:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold
- Strain into a cold cocktail glass
- Add optional garnish and serve
Dirty Martini
The appearance of the 'dirty martini' on Sex and the City is perhaps most remembered for being the drink that Samantha Jones throws in the face of her cheating lover, Richard Wright, during season 5.
A drink for lovers of salty flavours, adding olive brine to the ingredients of a classic gin or vodka martini is what makes the drink 'dirty' - due to its change in appearance from clear to cloudy.
Ingredients:
(serves one)
- 80ml of dry gin
- 20ml of dry vermouth
- 3 pitted green olives
- 15ml of olive brine
- Ice
Method:
- Add a martini glass to the fridge or freezer to chill
- Thread olives onto a cocktail stick and set aside
- Fill a jug or mixing glass with ice, as well as the gin, vermouth and olive brine
- Stir gently until the outside of the jug or glass feels cold
- Strain into your martini glass, garnish with olive skewer and serve
