National Cosmopolitan Day (May 7th)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every May 7th
Tagged as:	Alcohol Food & Drink
What's the hashtag?	#NationalCosmopolitanDay
Who founded it?	Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
We first published this page on:	Mar 5th, 2018
We last updated this page:	Jan 6th, 2025

Cosmopolitans are probably one of the most famous cocktails out there, where people can go out at night and enjoy a bit of fun at night while dancing, laughing, and singing in clubs.

For those delightful people who enjoy drinking a cosmo either on a regular basis or just every once in a while, this day is definitely worth celebrating!

It’s time to check out National Cosmopolitan Day!

How to Celebrate National Cosmopolitan Day

Get started with the National Cosmopolitan Day celebrations with these ideas:

Make a Cosmopolitan at Home

Of course, the most obvious way to celebrate this day is by indulging in a Cosmopolitan, which sounds more difficult to make than it is. Don’t be afraid to try out this amazing recipe that can easily be made at home:

In a cocktail shaker, mix 1 1/2 ounces vodka (or citrus vodka), 1 ounce Cointreau orange liqueur, 1/2 ounce lime juice (fresh), and 1/4 ounce cranberry juice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass dipped in sugar, then garnish with an orange peel and enjoy this delicious treat!

Celebrate with Pink

For many people, one of their favorite things about Cosmo is its color. The cranberry juice in the drink makes it a perfect hue of bright pink.

And a proper celebration of this day would certainly include dressing from head to toe in Cosmo Pink! Dig into that closet and choose a hot pink pantsuit, a Fuschia blouse or a pink scarf that gives a nod to the day’s vibe.

Other fun ways to get into the Cosmo Day vibe can be by decorating the house, car or office cubicle with all sorts of different things in pink.

Get Creative with Cosmopolitans

Just because this drink has a basic recipe doesn’t mean that it always has to be the same! Take it to the next level by including unique and different ingredients that allow the Cosmo to absolutely shine! Try these ideas out for a unique take on this classic pink drink:

White Cosmopolitan. Uncomfortable drinking something that is so…pink? Well this version might just suit! Simply use a white cranberry juice instead of the pink version and, just for fun, add in a little bit of flavor by using a citrus vodka. City Flowers Cosmopolitan. Instead of cranberry, go for a flowery flavor by including elderflower liqueur with lemon and grapefruit juices.
Kiwi Green Cosmopolitan. Mindoro Melon Liqueur, lemon juice, white grape juice and delightful chunks of kiwi fruit make this drink into something super special.
French Cosmopolitan. Making things a bit more sophisticated, this drink substitutes the Cointreau and uses Grand Marinier as the orange liqueur. Then garnish with the peel from an orange, lemon or lime.

It seems that in order to make National Cosmopolitan Day a proper celebration, it needs to be shared! Get some coworkers to go out for drinks after clocking out, or grab some friends and invite them out for a round of Cosmopolitans after dinner.

Let everyone know that it’s Cosmo Day, and don’t forget to share pictures on social media of drinking those fancy cocktails with friends!

History of National Cosmopolitan Day

This drink has been making the rounds for a while, and it highlights the ’90s as one of the best drinks of its time. Although the day itself was coined by freelancer writer, Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, who writes about non-traditional holidays, the history of the Cosmo itself is very murky.

It seems that some researchers think that the first tracked origins of the Cosmopolitan drink go back to the late nineteenth century, where a cocktail known as the Daisy emerged as a drink with a recipe that called for spirit, sweetener and citrus.

Although this isn’t exactly a Cosmo, it is easy to see how Daisy might be a distant ancestor!

A more direct line for the origins of this drink hails back to the year 1968, when Ocean Spray, one of the main cranberry companies in the United States, wanted to advertise cranberry juice to adults.

At the time they named the drink “The Harpoon” and it called for an ounce of vodka, an ounce of cranberry juice, and a squeeze of lime. While this was certainly closer to the Cosmo recipe, it was still missing the Cointreau and/or Triple Sec.

Although legends differ that the Cosmopolitan may have spawned from the gay subculture of Miami Beach, Florida and Provincetown, Massachusetts (where cranberries actually grow!), those can be difficult to prove.

Another story credits the invention of the drink to a bartender named Toby Cecchini, who made the drink while working at the famous and trendy Odeon bar in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood in 1987. But, honestly, it’s really hard to tell who truly made it because the drink seems to have evolved over time.

The Cosmopolitan’s popularity spread into celebrity culture, and it eventually ended up in The Rainbow Room, where Madonna is pictured drinking it at an after-party for the Grammy Awards.

Even after that it was still a bit obscure until it was brought into mainstream culture by the famous television show Sex and the City, where it appeared multiple times throughout the series, creating a cultural impact on viewers in the United States and, eventually, all over the world.

Cosmos can be as strong or tame as is personally preferred, but because it has vodka in it, it isn’t exactly the most innocent drink out there as far as cocktails go. In any case, it’s time to celebrate!

National Cosmopolitan Day FAQs

Did the Cosmopolitan have a predecessor in the 1930s?

Yes, a cocktail named the Cosmopolitan appeared in the 1934 book “Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars 1903-1933.”

This earlier version combined gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup, differing significantly from the modern vodka-based recipe.

How did the LGBTQ+ community influence the Cosmopolitan’s popularity?

In the 1970s, the gay community in Provincetown, Massachusetts, played a pivotal role in popularizing the Cosmopolitan. Their embrace of the cocktail contributed to its rise in the broader cocktail culture.

What role did Madonna play in the Cosmopolitan’s fame?

Madonna’s public endorsement of the Cosmopolitan in the 1990s significantly boosted its popularity.

Her association with the drink brought it into mainstream culture, elevating its status among cocktails.

Are there notable variations of the classic Cosmopolitan?

Yes, several creative twists exist, such as the “White Cosmopolitan,” which uses white cranberry juice for a clear appearance, and the “Cosmocello,” incorporating Italian Limoncello for a zesty flavor.

Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Cosmopolitan?

Absolutely, the “Virgin Cosmopolitan” combines cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice, and simple syrup, offering a sophisticated mocktail alternative.

How did the Cosmopolitan become associated with ‘Sex and the City’?

The Cosmopolitan became iconic through its frequent mention as the preferred drink of Carrie Bradshaw and her friends in the TV series “Sex and the City,” symbolizing urban sophistication.

What is the significance of the Cosmopolitan’s pink hue?

The cocktail’s distinctive pink color, derived from cranberry juice, adds to its visual appeal and has become a symbol of its chic and stylish reputation.

Did the Cosmopolitan inspire any cultural references?

Yes, the Cosmopolitan’s popularity in the 1990s led to its feature on the cover of Jay McInerney’s novel “Bright Lights, Big City,” highlighting its cultural significance.

How did the Cosmopolitan influence cocktail culture in the 1990s?

The Cosmopolitan played a key role in the cocktail renaissance of the 1990s, encouraging bartenders to revisit classic recipes and inspiring a new era of mixology.

What is the origin of the Cosmopolitan’s glassware choice?

The Cosmopolitan is traditionally served in a martini glass, chosen for its elegance and to showcase the cocktail’s vibrant color, enhancing the overall drinking experience.

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National Cosmopolitan Day