Twelfth Drink of Christmas

For the twelfth drink of Christmas, my bartender Dale DeGroff made for me, a Cosmopolitan.

The invention of the modern-day Cosmo is generally credited to bartender Cheryl Cook in Miami’s South Beach. Her recipe was made with Absolut Citron, a splash of triple sec, a few dashes of Rose’s Lime and some cranberry juice to turn it pink. But it was far too sweet and little too artificial. The Cosmo became what we know it as today thanks to cocktail heavyweight Dale DeGroff of the Rainbow Room in New York, he used Absolut Citron, Cointreau, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice, along with a flamed orange peel garnish. I have actually DeGroff make me a Cosmo and it is pretty damn good.

But did you know the Cosmo rose to stardom long before Sex and the City ever aired. Its prominence skyrocketed when Madonna was pictured sipping one at the Rainbow Room Grammy party. Here’s how to make yours just like Madge. Note that is Candy Bergen not Madonna. Photo: HBO

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  • 1.5 oz. Absolut Citron Vodka
  • 1.0 oz. Cointreau
  • .25 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 oz. Cranberry Juice

1. Always Chill your glass.

2. Shake all ingredients with ice. Always shake Vodka based Martinis.

3. Strain into your chilled cocktail glass.

4. Hold a flame to the orange peel briefly to release oil. Garnish with peel

5. Enjoy

6. Repeat

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Christian has been a cultural and style junkie since the age of 6; while most kids were swiping cookies, he was swiping his grandfathers' Patek Philippe. Raised to appreciate art, fashion,design and  literature (yeah, this one actually reads) by a single mother fondly called Jackie-O. Christian quickly went from childhood cultural capital thief to academia protégé. Referred to as the cat's meow by some, too clever by half by others, Christian eschewed the academic life and ran away to join the circus -the fashion circus. Several well-appointed positions later and a career on the rise would be most people's dream but it was time to say fuck off and start all over again.

This is Christian Dare Unedited.