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Home » Drink » The Perfect Cosmopolitan Cocktail

The Perfect Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Created: July 22, 2020 Updated: September 12, 2022 by lyuba 5 Comments

10.5K shares
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Cosmopolitan is a popular blush-pink cocktail with a light, crisp flavor of sweet and tart notes from cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. It’s a simple combination of vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice that became an cultural sensation. You can find it at every bar and restaurant across the country but more importantly, you can make it at home in just a few minutes. 

side view of the martini glass with pink cocktail and floating lime zest inside, another cocktail on the background and lime wedges on the table

WHAT IS COSMOPOLITAN COCKTAIL?

True to its name, no other cocktail bares a more debated and sorted history than this one. Credit goes out to so many people with creation of this cocktail, from San Francisco to Manhattan. 

This cocktail became nationally known after the debut on the popular HBO show Sex and the City. It was the cocktail of choice for the main character, Carrie Bradshaw. Just as Carrie became the cultural icon, so did her cocktail (and her fashion.) Although, this cocktail saw many celebrities and was already popular even before its on-screen appearance. 

Roots of Cosmopolitan go back to some old classics like The Gimlet or Kamikaze cocktails but the most known one is the cocktail created in San Francisco. It was a bright pink martini style cocktail that, to be honest, sounds absolutely disgusting. (It had well vodka, Rose’s lime juice, and grenadine). When requests for this cocktail appeared in Manhattan, this is where another credit for Cosmopolitan inventions come in. 

A bartender named Tobey Cecchini at the The Odeon in New York got a request for this hot pink mess of a cocktail. He reworked it to the modern classic that we know today. This cocktail became so popular among the staff and the regulars (who happened to be well known celebrities) that it spread like wild fire.  

It’s no wonder that this simple four ingredients can make a cocktail that has a perfect balance between sweet and tart flavors. Cosmopolitan is not super sweet or overwhelming, does not taste strong, and wonderfully refreshing so you can sip on it all night. 

holding fresh lime juice in a metal jigger next to a cocktail shaker with ice and parts of two martini glasses visible

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED?

Vodka – I prefer to use the classic vodka and make sure to get the brand that you like to drink. Well vodka taste will come through in this cocktail, so try not to use it. In the Manhattan original recipe, he used a citron vodka and you can try it as an alternate. 

Orange liqueur – Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec will work well here. Cointreau and Grand Marnier are considered top shelf and will cost more, while Triple Sec is your cheaper option.

Cranberry Juice – 100% cranberry juice is the best choice. Don’t get any mixed flavors or cranberry cocktail juices, just simple cranberry juice. 

Lime juice – fresh squeezed lime juice is the way to go. 

pouring clear vodka into the cocktail shaker out of a silver jigger and martini glass with ice water next to it

HOW TO MAKE IT

Chill the glass – it’s best to serve martinis ice cold so you will want to chill the glass first. Add a few ice cubes to each martini glass and then fill them with cold water. Let the glasses chill while you prepare the cocktail. 

Mix ingredients – add some ice cubes into the cocktail shaker and pour in vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice. Close the shaker well and shake vigorously for a few seconds. 

Pour cocktails – discard iced water from the martini glasses and pour the cocktail in through the strainer.

Lime twist – to get the zest, peel off the outer green skin of the lime and try not to get any of the white part. White part of the rind tastes bitter so you don’t want to add that to your cocktail. Twist and squeeze the green peel over the cocktail. You will see some juice spritz out and oils surface. Rub the twisted lime peel over the rim of the martini glass and toss it into the cocktail.

pouring the light pink cosmopolitan cocktail into the chilled martini glass out of a silver cocktail shaker

LET’S TRY SOME MORE CLASSIC COCKTAILS

Mojito

Lemon Drop Martini

Margaritas

Whiskey Sour

view from the top of the martini glass with light pink cocktail in it and a lime zest floating in the cocktail

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side view of the tall martini glass with with light pink cocktail and a lime zest floating in it and lime wedges scattered around

Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is a popular blush-pink cocktail with a light, crisp sweet and tart notes from cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, vodka, and orange liqueur.
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cocktail, vodka cocktial
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 235kcal
Author: lyuba

Ingredients

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz orange liqueur Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec
  • 1 oz 100% cranberry juice
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add a few ice cubes to a martini glass and then fill it with cold water. Let the glass chill while you prepare the cocktail. 
  • Add some ice into the cocktail shaker and pour in vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice. Close the shaker well and shake vigorously for a few seconds. 
  • Discard iced water from the martini glass and pour the cocktail in through the strainer.
  • Peel off the outer green skin off the lime and try not to get any of the white part. White part of the rind tastes bitter so you don’t want to add that to your cocktail. Twist and squeeze the green peel over the cocktail. You will see some juice spritz out and oils surface.
  • Rub the twisted lime peel over the rim of the martini glass and toss it into the cocktail.

Notes

Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have a slight variation.

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

collage of two images of light pink cocktail in a martini glass with lime wedges scattered around and a top view of the cocktail in a martini glass on the bottom half

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on June 19,  2012. Updated on July 22, 2020.

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

10.5K shares

Filed Under: Cocktail, Drink, New Year's, Popular Posts, Vodka

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Amy Tong says

    June 19, 2012 at 4:15 am

    How beautiful.  I love 
    Cosmopolitan. And you’re totally right, can’t write a blog post on 
    Cosmopolitan without having one on hand.  🙂

    Reply
  2. Taste Buds says

    June 19, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    When it comes to drinks, I usually prefer a bramble or a manhattan. But on those days where you just crave something a bit sweeter, the cosmo is the drink to go for.

    -h

    Reply
  3. WillCookForSmiles says

    June 20, 2012 at 2:27 pm

     Thank you!!

    Reply
  4. Carrie@ My Favorite Finds says

    June 21, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    I agree.  Nothing better than a cosmo!  THanks so much for sharing at our Handmade Tuesdays party.

    Reply
  5. Ca4ole says

    June 21, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    Hey, this is just great.  I have been hosting  a series called Food on Friday which features
    a different food or ingredient each time. 
    This week, for fun, we are doing cocktails and mocktails.  If you would like to link this in – this is
    the link
    Food on Friday

    Reply

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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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