The iconic Cosmopolitan, a cocktail made with simple ingredients such as vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry, has a vibrant color and a taste that’s dangerously easy to sip.
Consider your most memorable Cosmopolitan moment, whether a drunken epiphany or a happening while out with friends or even vicariously while watching the sassy ladies from Sex and the City. Now toss together this simple cocktail and see if you can’t make a new most memorable Cosmopolitan happening.–Renee Schettler Rossi
Cosmopolitan
Special Equipment: cocktail shaker
Ingredients
Email Grocery List- 1 ounce citron vodka
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
- Ice cubes
- Orange twist, for garnish
Directions
- 1. Pour the vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker. Toss in some ice and vigorously shake.
- 2. Strain the pale pink Cosmopolitan into a martini glass, garnish with the twist, and serve. Originally published May 9, 2014.
Recipe Testers Reviews
This is the quintessential Cosmopolitan—perfectly proportioned with a nice, sweet tang. I highly recommend purchasing 100% cranberry juice to elevate the flavor of this cocktail. Chilling your martini glass is a plus, too. Cheers!
This is now my "go-to" Cosmo recipe.
The proportions in the recipe are perfect, although I usually add an additional splash cranberry juice. I very much prefer the orange twist as a garnish rather than a lime wedge. I always use vodka l'orange because I like the fact that it further adds to the orange, which is a great combination with the lime and cranberry. Depending on your preference, a plain or vodka citron would also be appropriate.
My only complaint is that it makes just 1 serving. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled in your cocktail shaker. All of the proportions would remain the same.
It's always nice to have a cocktail recipe that works. I've enjoyed many Cosmopolitans in restaurants and bars, and this one is right up there. I think it's the perfect blend of ingredients to warrant a really well-balanced Cosmopolitan.
I enjoyed it using Ketel One Citron and garnished it with an orange slice and a lime slice. For something a little different, I think this would be quite delicious using pomegranate vodka and POM juice.
Simple. Really good. Elegant in a martini glass. Fun. Definitely not what I usually drink, and not something that I would ever order out. However, I really enjoyed this and will be enjoying it again. Maybe this evening.
I think this has the right amount of all ingredients. It was refreshing, sweet, and just a little tart all at the same time. I've had as good—and much worse—at restaurants before. But for a make-at-home version, this is a good go-to recipe.
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Kim Venglar
This is the first time I've tasted a Cosmopolitan and I love it. It's simple to make and very smooth going down. A nice refreshing drink that I can see myself making for guests during summer.