Cosmos Three Ways: a Toast to the End of Summer

As the warm weather fades, it’s time to take the last sips of summer. This season, bartenders across the city have put their own spin on the cosmopolitan, a summertime classic. These local establishments are reimagining the beloved drink through seasonal ingredients and creative twists.

Nesso’s Bottom of the Lime

At Nesso, head bartender Camden Chamberlin has crafted the Bottom of the Lime, a sophisticated departure from the traditional cosmo. This Italian-inspired variation swaps cranberry for fennel and herbal liqueurs, combining Tito’s Handmade Vodka with Antica Torino Genepì and Il Gusto Di Amalfi Finocchietto.

“We’re focusing on Italian spirits behind the bar,” Chamberlin said. “The result is a drink that’s both herbal and citrusy, with floral notes that add complexity while maintaining the cosmo’s essential balance of sweet, tart and bitter elements. All that’s missing are the cranberries.”

Provision’s Caught in the Cosmos

Provision takes a fruit-forward approach with their Caught in the Cosmos, one of the restaurant’s most popular signature cocktails this season. Head bartender Sarah Brown infuses Tito’s vodka with strawberries, then adds limoncello, lemon juice, strawberry liquor, dry curaçao and a house-made citrus oleo syrup created from lemon, lime and grapefruit peels macerated in sugar. 

“Strawberry and lemon are the perfect pairing,” Brown said, explaining why she chose lemon juice over the traditional lime. “The drink is finished with a sugar sumac rim, which adds a tart, citrusy spice and complements the cocktail’s fresh, patio-ready profile.”

Culinary Dropout’s Abandoned Cadillac

Culinary Dropout rounds out our top cosmo-adjacent picks with the Abandoned Cadillac: A tequila-based riff featuring Patrón, Grand Marnier, pomegranate redux and tart lime. The tequila base brings earthy, agave-forward notes that pair unexpectedly well with pomegranate’s deep, tart complexity. 

The Grand Marnier adds cognac richness instead of the typical triple sec brightness, resulting in a more robust, sophisticated drink that maintains the cosmo’s essential tartness while delivering considerably more depth and warmth.

Whether you’re drawn to Nesso’s herbal complexity, Provision’s strawberry brightness or Culinary Dropout’s bold tequila twist, these reimagined cosmopolitans prove that some classics never go out of style — they just get better with age. As the last warm evenings slip away, raise a glass with a drink that’s both familiar and refreshingly new.