Take a trip to the ’90s with this Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe! This classic vodka and cranberry juice drink may be retro, but it’s still refreshing and delicious.
If you, like me, have watched every episode of Sex and the City, you need to learn how to make a Cosmopolitan cocktail, or Cosmo for short. This tart, refreshing vodka drink is a signature of the show, and once you’ve watched Carrie and friends sip enough of them, you can’t help but want to try one.
Below, I share my go-to Cosmopolitan recipe, which is perfect for dinner parties, girls’ nights, and binge-watching. Sex and the City reboot (who else is tuning in for season 2 this week?!). It has a gorgeous pink color and a sweet and aromatic taste. Sure, a classic Cosmo is a little 1990s. But it’s also delicious. Cheers!
What’s in a Cosmopolitan Cocktail?
The Cosmo cocktail as we know it today evolved from a drink in the 1930s, the Cosmopolitan 1934. Its ingredients include gin, Cointreau, and lemon juice, and raspberry syrup gives it its pink color.
New York City bartender Toby Cecchini is commonly mentioned as the creator of the modern Cosmopolitan. He developed the vodka and cranberry juice cocktail in the late 1980s using Absolut Citron vodka, a citrus-flavored vodka that was new to the market at the time.
Here’s what goes into a classic Cosmopolitan cocktail:
- Vodka – Despite the drink’s history, I make mine with regular, unflavored, vodka.
- Cointreau or triple sec – Sweet orange liqueur adds citrusy depth to the drink.
- Cranberry juice – For the sour taste and slightly pink color.
- Fresh lime juice – It gives the drink a bright, tangy finish.
Find my Cosmopolitan recipe with measurements below.
How to Make a Cosmopolitan Cocktail
This Cosmopolitan recipe is super simple to make!
- Add the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and enjoy.
It’s so easy!
How to Serve This Cosmopolitan Recipe
Cosmo is traditionally served in a coupe or martini glass, but of course, you can use any type of glass you like.
An orange or lemon twist is a classic garnish. If you’re still working on your citrus twisting skills, an untwisted piece of zest will work well instead. Simply peel a strip of zest from an orange or lemon using a vegetable peeler. Be careful not to cut off too much of the white lump!
Make this Cosmo recipe for a happy hour or dinner party, a girls’ night in, or any celebration. It’s lively, refreshing, and retro in a fun way. hope you like it!
More Classic Cocktail Recipes
If you’d love to learn how to make a Cosmopolitan, try one of these classic cocktail recipes next:
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Serving 1
This easy Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe is great for parties and girls’ nights out! The classic vodka and cranberry juice drink has a vibrant pink color and a delicious sweet taste.
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounces Cointreau
- 1 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounces fresh lime juice
- ice
- Orange twist
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Place the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, traditionally a coupe or martini glass
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Garnish with an orange twist.