The Perfect Cosmo | Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe & Variations

The classy Cosmopolitan drink – a mix of vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry and lime juice – is refreshing and elegant. Learn how to make the Classic Cosmo and a few tasty variations.

This post contains affiliate links –  if you purchase a product after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more! For more information, check out my disclosure.

You will also love my Pornstar Martini

Published February 2015 | Updated December 2019

Ahhh the Cosmopolitan… A fave of  Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradsaw and a hugely popular cocktail in the 1990s as a result. The Cosmo was practically another character in that show, am I right?

These days ordering a Cosmopolitan is seen as little dated, a little passé… but this is actually a beautiful drink if made well.

COSMOPOLITAN DRINK ORIGINS

There’s some debate about who’s the creator of the Cosmpolitan cocktail… Some say it was invented by a Florida bartender named Cheryl Cook.

Others maintain that the quintessential Cosmopolitan recipe comes courtesy of Dale DeGroff of New York’s Rainbow Room. 

The first mention of ‘Cosmopolitan’ was back in 1934 – several drinks by that name appear in the book Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars. One of these drinks is very similar to current-day Cosmo drink.

Needless to say there’s endless variations of this drink – you will find some of my favourites below!

WHAT’S IN A COSMOPOLITAN?

The Cosmopolitan drink we now know and love contains:

Vodka: In some versions this has to be lemon-flavoured bodka, such as Absolut Citron. I prefer to use Stolichnaya (a.k.a Stoli) or my own cranberry-infused vodka for the ultimate Cosmopolitan cocktail!

Orange Liqueur: Triple Sec, Cointreau or (my preference) Grand Marnier. Some Cosmo versions made with Grand Marnier are called Grand Cosmopolitan (see also Grand Margarita).

Cranberry juice: Ocean Spray is the most commonly found. Try also Eager Cranberry Juice or Biona Organic Pure Pressed Cranberry Juice.

Lime juice: freshly squeezed 

Orange peel: strip of orange peel to garnish or flamed orange peel (dropped in the drink). Or you can use a lime wheel.

COSMOPOLITAN EQUIPMENT

Here’s what you will need to make a Cosmo – and most other shaken cocktails

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Mexican elbow 
• Strainer
• Martini or coupe glasses

How to make a Cosmopolitan Cocktail

STEP 1. Half fill your shaker with fresh ice. Put two Martini or coupe glasses in the freezer to chill.

STEP 2. Add the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry and lime juice.

STEP 3. Shake hard for 30 seconds.

STEP 4. Double strain into your chilled glasses.

STEP 5. Garnish your Cosmo with a flamed orange peel (see below) a strip of orange peel or a lime wheel.

How to Flame an Orange Peel for Cocktails

STEP 1. Cut a small piece of orange peel, at least an inch long. Hold a safe distance over the glass with a match or lighter in your other hand. 

STEP 2. Bend the orange peel to release a fine spray of bitter oils a short distance from the flame and watch them catch alight. Drop the peel into your glass and enjoy.

Cosmopolitan Drink Variations

Classic with a twist: add a teaspoon of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to the classic ingredients.

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan: my citrusy twist includes fresh blood orange juice – see recipe card for details.

Ultimate Cosmo: Replace the vodka with cranberry infused vodka. This version is ruby-red and very intense. Perfect for Christmas!

Sparkling Cosmopolitan: top with Prosecco or Champagne and toast the New Year!

Try these classic vodka cocktails

French Martini

Want to know how to make a French Martini? This popular cocktail only requires three ingredients - vodka, pineapple juice and Chambord. I have included the classic French Martini recipe plus a couple of variations.

GO TO RECIPE

Pornstar Martini

The Pornstar Martini (a.k.a Maverick Martini, Passion Star Martini) is a passion fruit vodka cocktail served with a shot of chilled Prosecco on the side. Delicious and photogenic!

Note: if you are using store-bought passion fruit puree you might need to add a bit less as commercial varieties can be very sweet!

GO TO RECIPE

Caipiroska

The Caipiroska is a twist on the popular Caipirinha - the national cocktail of Brazil. A simple cocktail, Caipiroska is made with muddled limes, sugar and vodka served with plenty of crushed ice. My fruity variation includes blackberries to create a vibrant cocktail that is perfect for summer.

GO TO RECIPE

Have you made my Cosmopolitan Cocktail?

Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes. I can’t wait to see your take on it!

Cosmopolitan Drink { Cosmo Cocktail }

Lucy Parissi

The classy Cosmopolitan drink - a mix of vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry and lime juice - is refreshing and elegant. Learn how to make the Classic Cosmo and a few tasty variations.

3.88 from 8 votes

Print Rate

Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: Continental

Keyword: Blood orange cosmopolitan, Cosmo, Cosmo Cocktail Recipe, Cosmopolitan Cocktail, Cosmopolitan Drink

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 154kcal

Ingredients

Classic Cosmopolitan

• 80 ml | ⅓ cup vodka or lemon vodka
• 2 tbsp Grand Marnier
• 60 ml | ¼ cup cranberry juice
• 1 tbsp lime juice or to taste
• orange peel to garnish

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan

• 120 ml | ½ cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• 60 ml | ¼ cup cranberry juice
• 80 ml | ⅓ cup vodka I used Żubrówka
• 60 ml | ¼ cup Cointreau
• dash orange bitters
• blood orange slices to garnish or orange peel

Instructions

Classic Cosmopolitan

• Put two martini or coupe glasses in the freezer to chill.
• Add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker together with a large handful of ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Double strain into the two chilled glasses.
• Cut a small piece of orange zest. Hold over the glass with a match or lighter in your other hand.
• Bend the orange peel to release a fine spray of bitter oils a short distance from the flame and watch them catch alight. Drop the peel into your glass and enjoy.

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan

• Put two martini or coupe glasses in the freezer to chill.
• Add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker together with a large handful of ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Double strain the cocktail between the two glasses. Garnish with a ribbon of orange peel or a thin slice of blood orange.

Video

Notes

Cosmopolitan Variations

Classic with a twist: add a teaspoon of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to the classic ingredients.

Ultimate Cosmo: Replace the vodka with cranberry infused vodka. This version is ruby-red and very intense. Perfect for Christmas!

Sparkling Cosmopolitan: top with Prosecco or Champagne and toast the New Year!

Nutritional Info

Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 5mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @supergolden88 or tag #supergoldenbakes!