We love the classic 1990s Cosmopolitan Cocktail. The Cosmo is made with vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. This fun, pink drink became famous from HBO’s Sex and the City. The Cosmo is tart, fresh and not too sweet. It’s the perfect drink to serve at dinner parties and girls’ nights.
Related: Lychee Martini, Espresso Martini, Chocolate Martini, Lemon Drop Martini, French Martini, Vesper Martini.
History of in the Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe
The modern day Cosmo is a variation of the 1930s cocktail called Cosmopolitan 1934 which was made using gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and raspberry syrup.
According to Gary Regan, the Cosmopolitan as we know it today was first mixed in 1985 by Miami bartender, Cheryl Cook. At the time Cook was working at a South Beach bar called The Strand. She created the Cosmopolitan as a variation of the Kamikaze with an added splash of cranberry juice.
Others believe the Cosmo was invented by Dale DeGroff at New York City’s Rainbow Room. Still other’s say it was first mixed by bartender Toby Cecchini in the late 1980s. Cecchini mixed his cosmo with Absolut Citron vodka, a citrus flavored vodka along with cranberry juice, orange liqueur and lime juice.
The drink became staple for New York City sophistication thanks to Sex and the City‘s Carrie Bradshaw in the 1990s. It has remained extremely popular ever since.
Ingredients in the Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail
- Vodka Choose unflavored or citrus flavored vodka.
- Orange Liqueur Such as Cointreau, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier.
- Cranberry Juice Cranberry Juice Cocktail (not 100% cranberry juice)
- Lime Juice freshly squeezed.
- Orange Peel (optional) for garnish
You can use any brand of vodka you prefer for this cocktail. We recommend a top shelf vodka such as Grey Goose.
How to make a Cosmopolitan
In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice.
Shake until the shaker feels very cold in your hands or 10-15 seconds.
Strain into a martini glass or coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel.
Orange Twist Garnish
And here’s how I make those little orange spirals. You can buy a fancy peeler or a potato peeler to scrape off a large piece of orange peel, and then simply use my kitchen shears to cut strips and curl them.
Tips for Making
- Chilled Cocktail Glass A chilled cocktail glass elevates any cocktail. Place your glass in the freezer for 30 minutes to 2 hours before you serve your drink.
- Simple Syrup If this recipe is too stiff for you try adding half an ounce to one ounce of simple syrup before shaking.
- White Cosmo A popular variation of the cosmo is the White Cosmo. Swap St-Germain in place of orange liqueur to try make your own.
More Cranberry Drinks
- Cape Codder (Vodka Cranberry)
- Sea Breeze Cocktail
- Bay Breeze Cocktail
- Vegas Bomb
- Cranberry Mimosa
More Classic Cocktails
- Manhattan Drink
- Aviation Cocktail
- Sidecar Drink
- Old Fashioned
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cosmopolitan made of?
A Cosmo is made of vodka, orange liqueur (such as Cointreau), cranberry juice cocktail and lime juice.
What is the difference between a Cosmo and a Vodka cranberry?
A Cosmopolitan is a stiffer martini that is more spirit forward. A Vodka Cranberry is more juice based and served in a tall glass. They both contain cranberry juice and vodka, but otherwise they are very different.
Cosmopolitan Recipe
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Equipment
- 1 cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Cointreau or orange liqueur
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce lime juice
- orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice.
- Shake until the shaker feels very cold in your hands or 10-15 seconds.
- Strain into a martini glass or coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel.
Notes
- Chilled Cocktail Glass A chilled cocktail glass elevates any cocktail. Place your glass in the freezer for 30 minutes to 2 hours before you serve your drink.
- Simple Syrup If this recipe is too stiff for you try adding half an ounce to one ounce of simple syrup before shaking.
- White Cosmo A popular variation of the cosmo is the White Cosmo. Swap St-Germain in place of orange liqueur to try make your own.
Nutrition
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