The Perfect Cosmopolitan Cocktail
A good Cosmo should have a balance between the sour, tart, and sweet flavors otherwise the cocktail will make you cringe. Since this is usually my drink of choice, it was my mission, to create that balance.
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.
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. Similarly to the Cosmo, a lemon drop martini and pear martini are not too sweet, simple, and refreshing.
Lyuba’s Tips For The Best Results
Cranberry juice – while using 100% cranberry juice is always a better choice, DO pay attention if there was sugar added or not. If not, taste the cranberry juice first and if it seems to tart to you, you can add 1/4-1/2 oz of simple syrup to the cocktail.
Orange liqueur – another source of sweetness in the cocktail is the orange liqueur. Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec will work well here but note that Grand Marnier is the sweetest of the three. Taste your orange liqueur first!
Taste! If you are not familiar with the ingredients you’re using, always taste them first.
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.
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.
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Cosmopolitan Recipe
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
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
- Cranberry juice – while using 100% cranberry juice is always a better choice, DO pay attention if there was sugar added or not. If not, taste the cranberry juice first and if it seems to tart to you, you can add 1/4-1/2 oz of simple syrup to the cocktail.
- Orange liqueur – another source of sweetness in the cocktail is the orange liqueur. Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec will work well here but note that Grand Marnier is the sweetest of the three. Taste your orange liqueur first!
Nutrition
Some More Refreshing Cocktails
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on June 19, 2012.
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.
I quit ordering cosmos a few years ago because every bar seemed to have their own version and they were all too sweet for my taste. I love the classic recipe, as yours uve laid out, but have trouble, especially on cruise ships, getting a classic cosmo
Thanks for sharing your experience! I totally get it—some bars and cruise ships definitely like to put their own spin on a Cosmo, and it can be tricky to find one that sticks to the classic recipe. I’m glad you enjoyed the version I’ve shared here! If you’re on a cruise or out at a bar, you could try asking the bartender to go easy on the triple sec or to use fresh lime juice rather than pre-made mixers—that might help tone down the sweetness.😊 Cheers!
My all time Favorite Drink!
How beautiful and refreshing. I love Cosmopolitans and hate it when the bars add too much cranberry juice.
Hey, this is just great! I love the lightness of this cosmo…not too much lime
I agree. Nothing better than a cosmo!
Thank you!!
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.