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The Cosmopolitan cocktail is easier to make than you think! This vibrant pink drink is perfect for any occasion, starring vodka, cranberry and orange liqueur.
It’s got a brilliant pink color and tangy, refreshing flavor—it’s the Cosmo! Or a Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be exact. This great cocktail recipe is ready to spice up your next gathering, be it a dinner party or drinks on the patio with friends.
The Cosmo was at its height in the 1990’s (hello, Sex and the City), but it’s stood the test of time and has become a classic. As certified mixologists with over 300 cocktail recipes in our library, we think the Cosmo is one sour cocktail that’s worth drinking, pairing zingy cranberry with vodka and orange liqueur!
Ingredients in a Cosmopolitan cocktail
A Cosmopolitan cocktail is a classic drink made with cranberry juice, vodka, and citrus. The exact history of the Cosmo is unknown: some claim it was invented in the 1930’s, others in the 1970’s. A recipe called the “Cosmopolitan Daisy” was published in a bar book in 1934 that is similar to the Cosmo, using gin and raspberry syrup instead of vodka and cranberry, so the basic formula stems back to the 1930’s. The ingredients in a Cosmo are:
- Citron vodka or vodka: We like using standard vodka since it’s what we usually have on hand. In our taste tests, citron vodka only adds a subtle citrus hint to the finish. But if you have citron vodka, by all means use it here!
- Cranberry juice: We like to use 100% cranberry juice, which is unsweetened. Many Cosmo recipes use cranberry juice cocktail, which has a sweeter, less nuanced flavor.
- Cointreau: We prefer using Cointreau as the orange liqueur in this drink (it’s what we use in our classic margarita recipe), but triple sec also works.
- Lime juice: Lime brings out the tangy flavor; make sure to use a fresh lime and not bottled juice.
Why to make this Cosmo recipe
As cocktail experts and certified mixologists, we have a long list of cocktail recipes where we break down each method so you don’t have to be the expert! We’ve got all the classic cocktails, from gin fizz to whiskey sour to French 75 to Moscow mule. Here’s why to make make our modern spin on the Cosmopolitan cocktail:
- It’s easy. We’ve paired it down to the essentials. Instead of having to buy a whole new type of vodka, you can use standard vodka instead.
- It’s not too sweet (you can customize to taste). Versions you’ll order at a bar can be incredibly sweet. This recipe is perfectly sweet tart, and you can customize it to taste.
- It has a bright color. This version uses unsweetened cranberry juice, which makes a heightened color compared to other Cosmos.
Do you have to use citron vodka in a Cosmo?
A Cosmopolitan cocktail purist would say that a “real” Cosmo uses citron vodka, a lemon-flavored vodka that brings a nice citrus zing. However, for our recipe we wanted to use ingredients everyone would have in their pantry. You can use either standard vodka or Citron vodka here. Citron vodka also stars in a classic Lemon Drop Martini, another great place to use it!
Using unsweetened cranberry juice
Traditional versions of a Cosmopolitan cocktail use sweetened cranberry juice. But for our version, we used 100% cranberry juice (unsweetened), which makes a crisp and tart drink. Bottles labeled cranberry juice cocktail have added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness. Here’s why we like to use unsweetened cranberry juice in cocktail recipes:
- It has less sugar, and you can customize the sweetness. Use 100% juice and you can customize the sweetness of the drink by adding simple syrup (or maple syrup, which adds a gentler sweetness). We’ve specified to add 1 teaspoon, but if you’d like, you can make it more tart or a little more sweet.
- The color is brighter. The color of this Cosmo is very bright pink because 100% juice has a deeper color.
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
The Cosmopolitan cocktail is easier to make than you think! This vibrant pink drink is perfect for any occasion, starring vodka, cranberry and orange liqueur.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Ingredients
- 1 ounce* vodka or citron vodka**
- 1 ounce 100% cranberry juice (not sweetened!)
- ½ ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- For the garnish: lime wheel (optional)
Instructions
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lime juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold. Strain the liquid into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel if desired.
Notes
*1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
**If you have it, use citron vodka for the most authentic Cosmo. In our tests we found it was just as tasty to use standard vodka with lemon juice, so you don’t have to buy another type of vodka.
***If all you can find is sweetened cranberry juice, omit the simple syrup.
More cranberry juice cocktails
Want to use up that leftover cranberry juice? There are lots of great cranberry cocktails to make with it! Here are a few ideas:
- The Madras features vodka, cranberry and orange juice for tart and tangy drink.
- A Vodka Cranberry is one of the easiest cocktails there is: vodka and cranberry juice on the rocks with a spritz of lime.
- Swap out vodka for bubbles to make a Cranberry Champagne Cocktail or a Cranberry Mimosa for brunch.
- A Rum and Cranberry uses rum, Cointreau and lime juice for a sweet tart, balanced drink.
- Try a Sea Breeze or Bay Breeze, classic refreshing cocktails fit for sipping al fresco, at happy hour or as a brunch drink.
Delicious, thank you for sharing. We like to use DeepEddy Cranberry vodka in these. It really adds to the color and tartness of the drink.
Great guys. But pity you didn’t include the metric liquid measures. Most everyone outside of USA uses ml or parts of a litre as liquid measures.
If you would like to grab a bigger audience then please convert to include the ml sizes measures alongside the imperial. They will appreciate the touch!!
Even though I grew up with imperial and metric measures. I simply just click off the sites with only imperial measures. And it’s only because I dont want to get confused making the drinks or whatever. Keep going I like your site!!!
Regards Dheave
I am needing to serve a cocktail in a dispenser for a party and am wondering if this Cosmo would be ok made in a larger batch and served from a dispenser. I would have garnishes of course.
Yes! 8x is the easiest: just switch cups for ounces.
Would agave be an okay substitute for the simple syrup? I’m thinking it might give it the same gentle sweetness without the slight maple flavor.
Yes!
Thank you for this! I have four Cosmo recipes from the people who claim it. They personally gave them to me. If you are interested, my deep dive Cosmopolitan cocktail research is here: https://www.misscharming.com/comopolitancocktailhistory
If you are interested, my deep dive Cosmopolitan cocktail research is here: https://www.misscharming.com/comopolitancocktailhistory
I have to say…
The maple syrup is a game changer. I don’t believe I’ll ever use simple syrup again! Thank you for the tip!
What are most of the items I need to keep on hand at all time to make different drinks?
We’d recommend a cocktail shaker, simple syrup and fresh citrus. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of building up different liquors that you enjoy.
Hiiiiii i made this for my mom and dad for valentines day they loved i thank you very much
This is the ONLY Cosmo I will drink. It’s getting me through the pandemic all on its own!
My husband & I have tried a number of your cocktail recipes. We have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one! You are our go-to source every time we want to try something new, or enjoy again those we have already tried.
We had relatives visit recently and they were very impressed with our bartending skills…thanks to you both!!
So glad to hear that! Thanks for making them :)
LOVE it that you so well-addressed the importance of 100% cranberry. Roughly a third the sugar of your 100% ‘Juice’ Cranberry ‘Cocktails’. By wording it like that, they get away, by the letter of the law, with making people think it’s 100% cranberry. Anyway, I usually do regular vodka and lime, which is great. But this time, per your suggestion, used Stoli Oranj (I had a couple 50 mls on hand haha), with lemon instead on lime. And a tsp less of Cointreau (always have that on hand). It is perfection. But OTOH, I’m not sure now whether it’s the citrus vodka or the lemon vs lime (or both) that makes such a big difference. Oh, I always add a couple dashes of Angostura orange bitters. Optional for most, but you should really try it. If you do, you’ll probably do it all the time from now on. :-D