Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Maria Do
Maria Do
Maria is a recipe developer and food photographer from New Orleans. Her Southern food blog, Murmurs of Ricotta, houses some of Google’s top-ranking recipes for Mardi Gras King Cake and Gouda Mac. She currently lives in Orange County, CA, where she can be found enjoying Vietnamese foods from her childhood and watching way too much Netflix.
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published Sep 23, 2022
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A photo of a bright red cosmopolitan cocktail with a lemon wedge on the side of the cocktail glass.
Credit: Maria Do

A simple cosmopolitan is sweet and tangy, and deserving of a spot on the roster of classic cocktails.

Serves1

Prep5 minutes

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A photo of a bright red cosmopolitan cocktail with a lemon wedge on the side of the cocktail glass.
Credit: Maria Do

Cosmopolitan cocktails are delicious, tangy, and slightly sweet cocktails with a bright pink color and orange peel garnish. If you are a Sex and the City fan, it doubles as a cultural artifact, tasting just as nostalgic as it does tart and tasty. Regardless of your feelings toward the show, they were classic cocktails long before Carrie made them icons.

What Is a Cosmopolitan Made Of?

  • Vodka
  • Triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
  • Cranberry juice
  • Lime juice

Is a Cosmopolitan a Martini?

While a cosmopolitan is served in a martini glass, it is not the same as a martini. Classic martinis are made with gin or vodka and vermouth; Cosmopolitans are made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. 

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Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

A simple cosmopolitan is sweet and tangy, and deserving of a spot on the roster of classic cocktails.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    orange slice or 2-inch orange peel, for garnish

  • 1 cup

    ice

  • 1 1/2 ounces

    vodka

  • 1 1/2 ounces

    cranberry juice cocktail

  • 1 ounce

    triple sec, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier

  • 1 ounce

    freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)

Instructions

  1. If using a garnish, cut a 1/4-inch thick slice of orange. Cut a slit from the center of the orange to the side. Alternately, use a vegetable peeler to peel a 2-inch strip of peel from an orange.

  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice, 1 1/2 ounces vodka, 1 1/2 ounce cranberry juice cocktail, 1 ounce triple sec, and 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds.

  3. Pour through a strainer into a martini glass. Garnish with the orange slice or peel.

Recipe Notes

Cranberry juice cocktail: Cranberry juice can be found in the non-refrigerated juice aisle and is commonly labeled as “cranberry juice cocktail”. This recipe uses sweetened Ocean Spray cranberry juice cocktail. If you use unsweetened cranberry juice, you may want to add up to 1 ounce simple syrup, depending on sweetness preference.

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Beverages
Cocktails
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