If there is one cocktail among others that defines New York’s drinking scene from the 1990s, it would be the vodka-based Cosmopolitan. The origins of this blend of cranberry, vodka, and citrus, belonging to the gimlet family of cocktails (which fall in the sour category), is a mystery. However, most believe that the modern version of the cocktail was crafted by Toby Cecchini at The Odeon Restaurant in New York City in 1988.
The drink gained much popularity among the masses when it got featured as Carrie Bradshaw’s (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends’ most favourite cocktail in the show Sex and the City (released in 1998).
Bringing a twist to the classic Cosmopolitan is the Six Brothers Mahura Spirits— a vodka made of mahura or mahua flowers. Mahua spirits are traditional alcoholic beverages made from the nectar of the sweet flowers of the Mahua tree (Madhuca Longifolia) that are native to and hold immense cultural significance for tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
Once the flowers are hand-plucked, the Six Brothers Mahua Spirit goes through a painstaking fermentation process, unlocking its hidden essence. India’s oldest and largest copper pot stills lie at the heart of this entire process. It is here that the spirit is masterfully double-distilled.
The result is a cocktail that not only celebrates the unique flavours of Six Brother Mahura but also gives an interesting twist to the classic Cosmopolitan. It is a drink where the vodka meets triple sec (an orange-flavoured liqueur that originated in France), cranberry juice, strawberry puree, and a hint of lime.
