Mint Cosmo
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. crème de menthe
1 oz. pomegranate or raspberry liqueur
1 oz. citrus liqueur (e.g., limoncello, cointreau, Tuaca)
½ oz. lemon juice
1 dash bitters
grenadine
cocktail cherry
Coat rim of cocktail glass with grenadine and chill. Shake all other ingredients over ice until some of the ice has melted.
Strain into glass and drop a cherry into the bottom.
Drink this if: Spring has you longing for brighter, stronger flavors. This cocktail hits your tastebuds full of fruity sweetness but quickly gives way to the astringent zing of mint and the tartness of lemon.
A very stiff, albeit smooth drink that goes down more easily with each sip, this is one that well deserves the Prohibition-era nickname “giggle water.” The bitters provide a bite that gives this concoction the depth it needs to be more than just palatable; it is elevated to a recipe I’ll be sure to revisit by the cherry at its conclusion.
