An Adaptable Cosmopolitan Cocktail

By Rebekah Peppler

Updated May 18, 2020

  • Julia Gartland for The New York Times
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Rating
4(346)
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In case you couldn’t help but wonder, this more refined Cosmopolitan is not a robust red but a dusty pink, deeply chilled, and walks the line between sweet and sour. You can even shed the notion that it must be served in a martini glass, and serve it in a coupe or smaller cocktail glass instead. Whatever your vessel, tuck it in the freezer for about 10 minutes to properly chill before pouring.

Featured in: You Don’t Need Whiskey for an Old-Fashioned, or Vodka for a Cosmo

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • 1 ½ ounces vodka (citrus or regular), gin or tequila

  • ¾ ounce cranberry juice cocktail, or use a dash of pomegranate molasses or a bit of raspberry jam diluted with water

  • ½ ounce orange liqueur (such as Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, Cointreau or triple sec)

  • ½ ounce fresh lime juice

  • Ice, as needed

  • Lime wedge or lemon twist (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

23 grams carbs; 223 calories; 10 milligrams sodium; 21 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Set coupe glass or other cocktail glass in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    In a shaker, combine the vodka, cranberry juice cocktail, orange liqueur and lime juice. Add ice and shake until very well chilled.

  3. Step 3

    Strain cocktail into chilled glass. Garnish with lime wedge or lemon twist, if desired.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
346 user ratings
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Comments

Sharon de Cook

For a group of 5, just change "ounce" to "cup" and use the proportions, pouring all into a lovely glass pitcher. Then shake portions over ice, and pour into lovely martini glasses, with lime slice. For Easter, I added a Peep to the rim. Everyone ate their Peep, and drank every bit of their Cosmo. Grand Marnier was better than Triple Sec in this drink.

CBB

Made last night with raspberry jam diluted with water as a replacement for cranberry juice with vodka, triple sec and fresh lime juice. It was quite good and visually pleasing! After my skeptical husband tasted mine, he wanted his own.

phaino

Classic! I used leftover cranberry sauce (homemade) after Thanksgiving and lately I’ve been using cold brew hibiscus tea. It’s tart and tannic and dried flowers keep a lot longer than decent cranberry juice!

Brad E.

Swap the vodka for a decent mezcal. So good

Pam from NJ

Fantastic as written with gin!

Maureen

I made this once with pomegranate molasses - tasted fine but an ugly brown color. Made this time with Absolut Citron, Cointreau, lime juice and a scant 1/2 ounce of pomegranate juice. It’s a deeper color than the pale pick cosmos I love but is less sweet and looks beautiful. Having my second one now :-)

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