The Perfect Cosmo | Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe & Variations
, Updated Oct 13, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
You will also love my Pornstar Martini
Post may contain affiliate links. For more information, check my disclosure
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.
There’s some debate about who’s the creator behind this 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!
Ingredients
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, always!
Orange peel: strip of orange peel to garnish or flamed orange peel (dropped in the drink). Or you can use a lime wheel.
USEFUL EQUIPMENT
Here’s what you will need to make a this recipe – and most other shaken cocktails.
Let’s make a Cosmopolitan!
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.
Cosmo Variations
Classic with a twist: add a teaspoon of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to the classic ingredients.
Blood Orange: 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
P*** Star Martini
Caipiroska
Have you made this recipe? 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 }
Video
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
Love these. I make blood orange cocktails for my pop up restaurants, and use blood orange which I make into a syrup, mixed with vodka and prosecco – so good (and strong!)
Rosie xx
Where do you get blood orange juice on east coast of U.S.?
You've got me craving a cocktail right now Lucy. These look divine!
Passé or not, the Cosmo is one of only two cocktails I make and drink on a regular basis—the other is the Margarita. I have a stock of blood oranges I was saving for a tarte aux agrumes but having seen this, they might not last the evening. BEAUTIFUL photos.
The pictures are SO beautiful! I love the vibrant red colors, almost hypnotizing! I've seen some pictures of your finished kitchen on Instagram and it looks amazing, I'm in love with the tiles.
You just gave me the perfect excuse to use a bunch of lonely blood oranges I've had in my kitchen all week.
xoxox
LOVE the colour! So vibrant!
LOL I swear I read your post but somehow I didn't see the vital part! LOL I feel like such loser right now. hahaha
Newsflash: found blood oranges at Sainsbury's today #happy
Your photography is always just stunning Lucy! Do you run photography courses? If you don't…. you should! Lovely cocktail. Lovely pics!
I would totally go for one right now, especially if made by you, my friend! Making a Cosmo with blood oranges is making them fresh and hip again. 😉 By the way, where did you buy yours? I am obsessed with blood oranges but don't see them anywhere this year. Mind you, I haven't had much time to shop around but still…what's your secret spot?
The answer is in the post – Ocado! I too was looking for them everywhere and was thrilled to find them online. I would totally make cocktails for us – though may be easier to actually go out when you aren't so crazy busy.
Gorgeous! I was just drinking blood orange cosmopolitans on Saturday night. They're so good aren't they! I just can't get enough of blood oranges at the moment x
I haven't had a Cosmo in at least a decade – but these are amazing. I am addicted!
Oh yesssss please!