Liquor Stuff

Solo Cup Lore & Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Cocktail Time w/Colorado Martini

Some of our fav bar tools:

The Cosmo

The origin of the cosmopolitan (aka Cosmo) is disputed. Many claim to be the creator of the drink. Most think it was the show “Sex in the City” that made the Cosmo popular.

But there is a similar recipe in Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars 1903-1933, which was published in 1934. That version is also called the cosmopolitan. The 30’s version was made with ingredients that would have been readily available during that period.

30’s Version of the Cosmopolitan

  • Jigger of Gordon’s Gin (​1 ½ oz Beefeater)
  • 2 dash Cointreau (​ ½ oz Cointreau)
  • Juice of 1 Lemon (1 oz Lemon Juice)
  • 1 tsp Raspberry Syrup (1 tsp homemade)

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Classic Cosmopolitan

  • 1½ oz Citrus vodka
  • 1 oz Cointreau or another triple sec
  • ½ oz Fresh lime juice
  • Dash Cranberry juice
  • For a virgin cosmopolitan replace the vodka and triple sec with orange juice and pink lemonade

The Red Solo Cup – The 18-ounce Party Chalice

The Red SOLO Cup is a necessity for all party supplies list. Weather it is a party, tailgate, or just having a drink on the patio. There is nothing more tied to a kegger than a red Solo cup. The cup has been around since 1976.  And has been a symbol of good times ever since.

According to urban legend, the red solo cup lines that wrap around the cup are for measuring liquor. The iconic red Solo brand cups are used at parties everywhere.  The lore say that these lines are proper filling level for various kinds of alcohol: the bottom line is for a shot of liquor (1 ounce), the middle line is a serving of wine (5 ounces), and the top line is the right amount of beer (12 ounces).

These measurements do correspond to some standard alcohol serving sizes. but the placement of the lines is not intended as any kind of serving guide from the Dart company.

The actual serving standards are:

  • 1 shot of liquor is generally 1.5 ounces rather than 1 ounce
  • Although many people do not drink wine out of Solo cups
  • Beer is usually poured into a Solo cup until the cup is full rather than carefully measuring it out to 12 ounces.

Snopes.com called the Dart Corporation, who are the makers of the Solo cup to find out.  According to Dart Container Corporation, the lines are designed for functional performance and are not measurement lines. If the lines do coincide with certain measurements, it is purely coincidental.

The company claims that the design prevents fewer spills with the rolled rim and squared stable base and 4 grip areas to secure beverage. The indented grooves were added in 2003 so that the cup would be easier to grip. In 2009, the cup’s base was squared, and the ergonomic grips were refined. It is actually the result of careful and beautiful engineering.

Before the Solo cup it was often difficult to remove one disposable cup from one another when stacked. The design of the Red Solo was to eliminate the issue.

The newest Star Wars movie was code-named “Red Cup.” Because the most famous red cups known to mankind is the plastic the Solo. And the movie was about Han Solo.

For fun, in response to this rumor, Dart produced a chart showing just what those lines indicate. See below

From Snope.com and Dart Corporation: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/solo-cup-markings/

DISCLAIMER:

This video, content, and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission from Amazon. Please see my disclaimer statement on my website https://www.coloradomartinis.com.  This helps support my channels and website and allows us to continue to make videos and content like this. Thank you for the support!

This recipe, video, and guide is intended only for responsible adults of legal drinking age in the United States of America (21 years old or older). It is purely intended for entertainment and educational purposes.

Please do NOT drink and drive. If you need transportation, use a designated driver or a taxi service. And please be careful when crossing the street after drinking. Colorado Martini does not advocate or encourage the abuse of alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly and with moderation.

We do not, under any circumstances, accept responsibility for any damages that result to yourself or anyone else due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the use of this site and any materials located on it. We cannot take any responsibility for the effect these drinks may have on people.

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