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In an ideal world, the best-tasting cocktails would all be made with fresh fruit and aromatic garnishes. But who has time to buy and cut fruit? And some drinks -- like the mojito -- require so much mint-muddling that the mere thought makes a man's arms grow tired.
Now Smirnoff is cashing in on two hugely popular cocktails at trendy bars and clubs these days. Grand Cosmopolitan, a pink-peach colored spirit, is made with Smirnoff vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, a splash of lime and elderberry extract. It's not nearly as strong as vodka (30 proof or 15 percent alcohol by volume), and therefore goes down very smoothly, with a zingy orange aftertaste. It's a miracle that they didn't make it too sweet. A fresh lime garnish would add acidity and give it a fresher flavor, but that would defeat the whole pre-mix concept.
Vodka Mojito is a stranger concoction. Of course, mojitos are usually made with rum. This is basically a minty vodka tonic, and it's not bad. You can smell some mint as the glass passes under the nose. The scent of lime is strong, almost too strong; it looks like a cloudy limeade and has a somewhat artificial taste. They've also added triple sec (another orange-flavored liqueur) and oak extract (sometimes added to wine to give it an oaky flavor). A glass of this stuff needs a sprig of fresh mint.
You're not likely to order these on a night out at a bar, but they'd be a welcome addition to your home liquor cabinet.
-- James Oliver Cury
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