Cocktail Recipe - The Cosmonaut
The story
There’s plenty of cocktails that are variations on previous ones. Ingredients or methods tinkered with until the bartender is satisfied he has improved upon the original. The Cosmonaut is the only one I can think of that was invented as a reaction against a popular cocktail.
Sasha Petraske was a New York based bar owner who had earned his place in cocktail history well before his untimely passing at the age of 43. He opened Milk & Honey on new year’s eve 1999 and more than any other is considered the first of the modern speakeasy style bars. Any time you have to go downstairs into a windowless bar with 1920s stylings, you have Petraske to thank for the enjoyable experience that awaits.
Milk & Honey operated a set of charming house rules including ‘no shouting’ and ‘gentlemen will not introduce themselves to ladies. Ladies, feel free to start a conversation. If a man you don;t know speaks to you, please left your chin slightly and ignore him’
Amongst Petraske’s legacy during his time at Milk & Honey was the invention of The Cosmonaut. Legend has it that he got so bored of making Cosmopolitans for New Yorkers who had watched too many episodes of Sex and the City that he invented the Cosmonaut as an alternative.
It’s technically a variation on a Breakfast Martini, though the taste is very different. It’s piquant, fruity and with a slight sweetness. It’s a triumph of simplicity.
The drink
Ingredients:
50ml London Dry Gin
25ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Tbsp Premium Raspberry Jam
Kit:
Cocktail shaker, coupe or martini glass, fine strainer
Don’t scrimp on the jam, it’ll be the difference between an mediocre Cosmonaut and an excellent one. Get a posh jam, trust me.
Directions:
Cool your glass with some ice
Add some ice and the ingredients to a shaker
Shake!
Remove the ice from your glass
Double strain the cocktail int your glass
Double straining is important to remove the raspberry seeds. Unless your jam is seedless. In which case you’ve probably not bought a posh enough jam!