It’s almost time for National Cosmopolitan Day on May 7th, and here at New Deal, we’re feeling nostalgic. If you came of age in the 1990s, you know exactly what we mean. We’ve been around long enough to remember the absolute peak of the Cosmo Craze, that vibrant, pink-hued moment in the 1990s when the Cosmopolitan became the defining cocktail of bar and club culture. Equal parts tart cranberry, bright citrus, and smooth vodka, the Cosmo swept through bars, restaurants, and living rooms across America with a confidence that felt entirely its own.
The drink's origins are debated the way all great cocktails are, but by the mid-1990s, the Cosmopolitan had found its moment. Bartenders in New York and Miami were shaking them up; by the late '90s, the Cosmo had become the defining drink of a generation. It was glamorous, approachable, and, crucially, delicious. And it did something that had never quite happened before: it made vodka cocktails genuinely, unabashedly cool.
Before the Cosmo era, vodka was often treated as a utilitarian spirit: the neutral background player in a screwdriver or a Bloody Mary. The Cosmo changed that. Here was a drink that showcased vodka's clean versatility while still delivering bold, complex flavor. The cocktail boom of the late 1990s, with every bar pouring pink drinks into chilled martini glasses, helped fuel an explosion of interest in craft spirits that would ripple through the industry for decades. Including right here in Portland.
That era of high-energy, vodka-based cocktail popularity was actually a major inspiration for our founding. The craft brewing revolution had already taken hold in Portland. The city's DIY, independent spirit (pun very much intended) was in full swing. And so, Tom's dream of starting a distillery began in 2001, and by 2004, we officially opened our doors in Portland, releasing our flagship New Deal Vodka—Portland’s very first craft vodka. We’ve since expanded our lineup to include the high-proof mixing workhorse, Portland 90 Vodka.
To celebrate National Cosmopolitan Day, we’re moving beyond the classic to bring you five distinct variations, each crafted to showcase our spirits. Whether you’re hosting a breezy spring gathering or unwinding on a quiet patio, we’ve paired each recipe with the perfect upscale bar snack to elevate your at-home festivities.
New Deal Cosmopolitan
The Gold Standard
The CLASSIC
Let's start where it all begins: the classic. This is the Cosmo you know and love, made the way we think it should be with a proper, craft-distilled vodka that can actually carry the drink. Our Portland 90 Vodka brings a higher proof (90, naturally) and a soft, round sweetness to the shaker that plays beautifully against cranberry and citrus. Prefer something a little lighter? Our original New Deal Vodka is clean and bright, with nothing to hide. Either way, this is the Cosmo done right.
SPRING GATHERING
This one shines at a Mother's Day brunch, a garden party, or any afternoon when the sun finally shows up and you want something that looks as good as it tastes. Make a round for the table and watch everyone relax.
BAR SNACK PAIRING
Smoked salmon crostini with crème fraîche and dill. The richness of the salmon and the tang of crème fraîche are a natural counterpoint to the Cosmo's tart, citrus-forward brightness. Simple, elegant, and thoroughly Pacific Northwest. Having some dairy-free guests over for Mother's Day? Prosciutto-wrapped melon wedges. The saltiness of the cured meat perfectly cuts through the tartness of the cranberry and citrus.
Apple Brandy Cosmo
The Gold Standard
the plot twist
Who says a Cosmo has to be made with vodka? This is the question we asked ourselves when we developed this variation, and we're glad we did. Our Distiller's Workshop Apple Brandy brings warm orchard fruit and a gentle depth, transforming the classic formula into something more complex and intriguing. The result is a cosmo that feels familiar but keeps you guessing: fruit-forward, slightly earthy, and unexpectedly sophisticated.
SPRING GATHERING
Serve this one at a late-May dinner party, the kind where you've finally cracked the windows, and there are fresh flowers on the table. It bridges the gap between spring and the warmer months ahead, and it will absolutely prompt the question: "Wait, what's in this?"
BAR SNACK PAIRING
Apple Brandy demands a bold cheese companion. Serve alongside a charcuterie board anchored by aged white Tillamook cheddar and Marcona almonds. The nutty richness of the almonds echoes the brandy's orchard warmth, while the cheddar provides a savory counterweight to all that fruit. Add a smear of local honey to a slice of aged cheddar for an extra treat!
Big-Batch Freezer Strawberry Cosmo
The Gold Standard
the party host's secret weapon
Here's the thing about hosting: the best parties happen when the host isn't spending the whole night shaking cocktails. That's where this genius recipe comes in. Make it the night before, stash it in the freezer, and then serve it when your guests arrive. Just pour, garnish, and enjoy. The high proof of our Portland 90 Vodka keeps the mixture from freezing solid, so what you pull from the freezer is a perfectly chilled, slightly slushy Cosmo that's ready to go.
The homemade strawberry simple syrup (or a great craft alternative from the Bottle Shop) takes this variation beyond the original. The berries add a vibrant ruby hue and a fresh, summer-ready sweetness, making this the most visually stunning Cosmo of the bunch. It's late spring in a glass.
SPRING GATHERING
This is the quintessential backyard party pour for the Memorial Day long weekend, on Derby Day, at a graduation celebration, or at a birthday garden party. Make two liters if you're feeding a crowd. Your friends will think you spent all afternoon on cocktails. You'll know better.
BAR SNACK PAIRING
Pairs beautifully with strawberry and brie bruschetta, drizzled with honey and topped with fresh basil. The jammy sweetness of the strawberry echoes the drink's berry notes, and the creamy brie keeps things lush and indulgent. Bonus: it's beautiful on a party platter.
Farmhouse Cosmo
The Gold Standard
the savory reinvention
This one is for the cocktail nerds. And we mean that as the highest possible compliment. The Farmhouse Cosmo takes the familiar framework of the classic and turns it on its head with a house-made cranberry shrub — a drinking vinegar that adds a complex, tangy depth you simply cannot get any other way. Yes, making the shrub requires some advance planning (think: a slow afternoon with a crockpot and good music). But the payoff is extraordinary. The allspice liqueur adds a warm, spiced undertone that bridges the cranberry and citrus in ways that feel genuinely unexpected. And once you've made the shrub, it keeps for up to two years and makes every future batch of Farmhouse Cosmos feel like a gift to your future self. This is the cosmo for people who think deeply about what they're drinking.
SPRING GATHERING
Make this one the Saturday after your first farmers market trip of the season. Pick up fresh cranberries (or use your freezer stash), spend the afternoon making the shrub, and by evening you'll be sipping something that tastes unmistakably handmade. It pairs beautifully with the kind of lazy, intentional spring Saturday that Portland does so well.
BAR SNACK PAIRING
Whipped ricotta crostini with caramelized onions and fresh thyme. The savory, slightly sweet notes of the caramelized onions resonate with the shrub's depth, and the herbal thyme echoes the spiced warmth of the allspice liqueur. Rustic, satisfying, and genuinely impressive.
Couldn't Help But Wonder
The Gold Standard
the house-made upgrade
We couldn't help but wonder: what happens when you swap the cranberry juice for something more intentional? Something made by hand, right here in our distillery, using the same care and curiosity we bring to our spirits? The answer is this: one of the best Cosmos we've ever made ... named for the pop-culture icon who made the Cosmo famous.
Our house-made Tart Cranberry Syrup, available at the Bottle Shop, is the key. Where cranberry juice adds color and tartness, the syrup adds body, intensity, and a concentrated cranberry flavor that makes the classic formula sing at a whole new volume. The recipe is deceptively simple, just four ingredients, but the quality of the Tart Cranberry Syrup does serious heavy lifting. This is what happens when you make your mixers the same way you make your spirits: with care, from scratch, using good ingredients.
SPRING GATHERING
Make this one for date night at home: the kind where you've put actual thought into dinner and want the cocktails to match. The recipe's elegant simplicity means all the attention goes to the quality of what's in the glass. Set out a coupe, curl that orange peel, and let the drink speak for itself.
BAR SNACK PAIRING
Pair this tipple with something bittersweet! Dark chocolate bark with sea salt, dried cranberries, and toasted pistachios. The bittersweet chocolate plays beautifully against the Tart Cranberry Syrup's concentrated tang, and the pistachios add an earthy crunch that grounds the whole experience. Simple to make, impossible to stop eating.
Make It Your Own, But Make It Local
Five Cosmos, three different spirits, five different takes on a drink that has never really gone out of style. (It just had to wait for the rest of the world to catch up.) Whether you're shaking up the classic for a crowd or experimenting with our Apple Brandy or house-made Tart Cranberry Syrup for two, every one of these recipes is designed to be made with ingredients you can find right here at the New Deal Bottle Shop. Stop by for a tasting flight, grab a bottle, and make May 7th worth remembering. We'll be here.