Perfect Cosmopolitan Cocktail
I love this cosmopolitan cocktail recipe! It’s not too sweet, not too tart, and really easy to make. I genuinely think it makes the best cosmos. Easily one of my favorite vodka cocktails! After a lot of trial and error this has become my favorite cosmopolitan cocktail (or cosmo). It is delicious! Although cosmos are strong cocktails, my recipe strikes the perfect balance. They aren’t too sweet or tart. Adam and I love cocktails so be sure to check out some of our other favorites! If you are in the mood for bubbles, try this Champagne cosmopolitan. If you’re looking for something citrusy and sweet, try our lemon drop martini. Or, if you want something a little more bubbly and bitter, we highly recommend trying our Aperol spritz! Key Ingredients Vodka: When choosing vodka for cosmos, go for something mid- to high-range. We usually stock Stolichnaya or “Stoli,” but use what you know you enjoy. A citrus vodka tastes incredible, too. Lower-priced vodka tastes a bit more abrasive. Cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail: You can use sweetened cranberry juice (often called “cranberry juice cocktail”) or unsweetened plain cranberry juice. If you use unsweetened, you will likely need to add a small splash of simple syrup or agave since it can be tart. Substitute for white cranberry juice to make a white cosmo! Orange liqueur: I recommend Cointreau for the best cosmos! You can use Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier in our cosmopolitan recipe. Cointreau is a type of Triple Sec that tastes stronger and more complex. It’s also smoother, so I love using it for cosmos. Grand Marnier is also a type of Triple Sec, but it is combined with Cognac, which makes it taste richer, nutty, and caramelized. Fresh lime juice: I’m a stickler on using fresh, not bottled lime juice. We realize it’s a little more work, but the taste is much better. Orange peel: We love adding orange peel to our martini glass. It may look like an unnecessary garnish, but as you sip your cosmopolitan, you’ll get an orange aroma, which hides the strength and scent of the vodka. Vodka: When choosing vodka for cosmos, go for something mid- to high-range. We usually stock Stolichnaya or “Stoli,” but use what you know you enjoy. A citrus vodka tastes incredible, too. Lower-priced vodka tastes a bit more abrasive. Cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail: You can use sweetened cranberry juice (often called “cranberry juice cocktail”) or unsweetened plain cranberry juice. If you use unsweetened, you will likely need to add a small splash of simple syrup or agave since it can be tart. Substitute for white cranberry juice to make a white cosmo! Orange liqueur: I recommend Cointreau for the best cosmos! You can use Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier in our cosmopolitan recipe. Cointreau is a type of Triple Sec that tastes stronger and more complex. It’s also smoother, so I love using it for cosmos. Grand Marnier is also a type of Triple Sec, but it is combined with Cognac, which makes it taste richer, nutty, and caramelized. Fresh lime juice: I’m a stickler on using fresh, not bottled lime juice. We realize it’s a little more work, but the taste is much better. Orange peel: We love adding orange peel to our martini glass. It may look like an unnecessary garnish, but as you sip your cosmopolitan, you’ll get an orange aroma, which hides the strength and scent of the vodka. Find the full recipe with measurements below. Tips for Making the Best Cosmopolitan Tip 1: Use a cocktail shaker. When making cosmopolitan cocktails, a cocktail shaker filled with ice is a must. Not only does a cocktail shaker quickly chill all of the ingredients but small ice pieces chip off that slightly dilute the drink. This is intentional to help balance all of the flavors. Add vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau (or Triple Sec), and fresh lime juice, close the lid, and shake until very cold. Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass. Tip 2: Peel citrus over glass. When you add the orange peel, peel it over the glass. This way, any oils spraying from the orange fall into your drink. Rubbing the edges of the glass doesn’t hurt either. Trust me, it makes a huge difference. Tip 3: Make ahead to serve a crowd. A cosmo is the perfect cocktail to make ahead. I love doing this when I have a group of friends coming over! Instead of making each cocktail individually, I’ll make a large batch in a pitcher and then chill it in the fridge. To make a pitcher that serves 4, you will need 1 cup (8oz) vodka, 1/4 cup (2oz) Cointreau, 6 tablespoons (3oz) cranberry juice, and 2 tablespoons (1oz) lime juice. Perfect Cosmopolitan Cocktail PREP 5 mins TOTAL 5 mins PREP 5 mins TOTAL 5 mins I love this classic cosmopolitan! It’s easy to make one or a pitcher for a crowd. Use a vodka you enjoy. Citrus vodka is especially delicious. I love adding orange peel to our cosmos. Sure, it may look like an unnecessary garnish, but if you do it right, it adds a little sweetness. As you take a sip of the cosmopolitan cocktail, you’ll get orange essence, which hides the strength and scent of the vodka. When you add the orange peel, peel it over the drink. This way, any oils spraying from the orange fall into the drink. Rubbing the edges of the glass doesn’t hurt either. Makes 1 drink Watch Us Make the Recipe You Will Need 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka or citrus vodka 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier 3/4 ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) cranberry juice cocktail, see notes 1/4 to 1/2 ounce (1 ½ teaspoons to 3 teaspoons) fresh lime juice One 2-inch orange peel/twist Directions 1Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. (I like the extra bite of lime juice, so I use 1/2 an ounce in our cosmo, but use what is best for your taste.) 2Shake the cocktail shaker for about 30 seconds until well chilled. Then, strain into a martini glass. 3Garnish with orange peel/twist. Peel the orange twist over the filled cocktail glass so the orange oils spray into the glass. 1Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. (I like the extra bite of lime juice, so I use 1/2 an ounce in our cosmo, but use what is best for your taste.) 2Shake the cocktail shaker for about 30 seconds until well chilled. Then, strain into a martini glass. 3Garnish with orange peel/twist. Peel the orange twist over the filled cocktail glass so the orange oils spray into the glass. Adam and Joanne's Tips Cranberry juice: You can use sweetened cranberry juice (often called “cranberry juice cocktail”) or unsweetened plain cranberry juice. If you use unsweetened, you will likely find that you need to add a small splash of simple syrup or agave since it can be quite tart. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Cranberry juice: You can use sweetened cranberry juice (often called “cranberry juice cocktail”) or unsweetened plain cranberry juice. If you use unsweetened, you will likely find that you need to add a small splash of simple syrup or agave since it can be quite tart. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Nutrition Per Serving Calories 205 / Protein 0 g / Carbohydrate 13 g / Dietary Fiber 0 g / Total Sugars 9 g / Total Fat 0 g / Saturated Fat 0 g / Cholesterol 0 mg AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us