This fruity and fun Cosmopolitan Cocktail is legendary for good reason! Made with vodka, cranberry juice, and cointreau, the tart and citrusy flavors are delightfully refreshing and dangerously easy to drink.
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Looking for more classic cocktails for girls night? Be sure to try this Espresso Martini and my French 75!
Chances are if you’ve seen an episode of Sex and the City, you know what a Cosmopolitan Cocktail is. This pinkalicious vodka cocktail is surprisingly easy to make and is delightfully tart and sweet. Traditionally served in a martini glass, this classic drink is the perfect choice for girls night or whenever you feel like channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw.
A cosmopolitan recipe is simple. Take some vodka, cranberry juice, cointreau, simple syrup, and citrus juice, pour them into a cocktail shaker, strain into a martini glass, and enjoy! The vibrant pink hue and tangy flavors of this delicate martini-like cocktail will make whoever you’re serving feel like they’re sipping cocktails in an upscale New York City bar.
What do cosmos taste like?
The mix of vodka, citrus, and cranberry juice give a cosmo drink its signature tart, tangy, and fruity flavors. Simple syrup (sugar and water) lightly sweetens the cocktail while helping to balance the punchier flavors. Regardless of the details, you can count on a cosmopolitan to be very easy to drink!
The history of the cosmopolitan cocktail
This IBA official cocktail has a widely disputed history. There are many claims as to who the true inventor is, some saying the recipe was published in a 1930s recipe book while others claim it was invented in a Miami bar during the 1980s.
Cosmo ingredients
- Vodka – Or you can use a citrus vodka like absolut citron.
- Cranberry Juice
- Cointreau (or Triple Sec – learn about the differences here)
- Fresh Lime Juice
- Simple Syrup – Or, swap in this honey simple syrup.
How to make a cosmo
This shaken cocktail recipe requires a cocktail shaker to thoroughly infuse all of the flavors together. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, throw everything in a sealed mason jar and shake!
To make the cosmo cocktail, place the vodka, cranberry juice, cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake for 30 seconds.
Strain the pink cocktail into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wheel, orange twist or lemon twist, and enjoy!
Tips and variations
- A traditional cosmopolitan is made with citron vodka, AKA lemon-flavored vodka. Regular vodka will work, however, go with the citron for an extra burst of refreshing citrus!
- Alternatively, use regular vodka and replace the lime juice with lemon juice to replicate the traditional recipe.
- You must use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. Not only will this give your cocktail a vibrant red color, but the pure juice doesn’t contain added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Cranberry juice cocktail, on the other hand, will make your cosmo overly sweet. If using cranberry cocktail, skip the simple syrup and add a bit more juice.
- Cointreau adds the signature orange flavor to this tart cocktail. If you can’t find cointreau, use triple sec, Grand Marnier, or a similar orange liqueur instead.
- Play with the amount of simple syrup to help the cosmo taste as sweet as you like. For a sweeter cocktail, add the full teaspoon (or 1 ½ teaspoons) of simple syrup. For a less sweet cosmo, only use ½ teaspoon of simple syrup. You can also use this honey simple syrup.
More colorful cocktail recipes
Did you try this classic cosmopolitan drink?
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Full Recipe
The BEST Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces vodka (or citron vodka)
- ¾ ounce 100% cranberry juice (unsweetened)
- ¾ ounce Cointreau (triple sec or Grand Marnier)
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup (¼ oz.)
To Garnish:
Instructions
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 30 seconds.
- Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wheel, if desired.
Notes
- A traditional cosmopolitan is made with citron vodka, AKA lemon-flavored vodka. Regular vodka will work, however, go with the citron for an extra burst of refreshing citrus!
- Alternatively, use regular vodka and replace the lime juice with lemon juice to replicate the traditional recipe.
- You must use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. Not only will this give your cocktail a vibrant red color, but the pure juice doesn’t contain added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Cranberry juice cocktail, on the other hand, will make your cosmo overly sweet. If using cranberry cocktail, skip the simple syrup and add a bit more juice.
- Cointreau adds the signature orange flavor to this tart cocktail. If you can’t find cointreau, use triple sec, Grand Marnier, or a similar orange liqueur instead.
- Play with the amount of simple syrup to help the cosmo taste as sweet as you like. For a sweeter cocktail, add the full teaspoon (or 1 ½ teaspoons) of simple syrup. For a less sweet cosmo, only use ½ teaspoon of simple syrup.
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