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The perfect mix of sweet and sour, this 4 ingredient classic cosmopolitan cocktail is at its best served in a chilled martini glass with a little slice of lime!
Why You'll Love It
The Cosmo - It's a classic go to bevy. But why is it so beloved at Happy Hours everywhere?
First off, I was completely unaware that this traditional "Girls' Night" beverage was so easy and simple to make! You literally just add everything into a cocktail shaker over ice, shake shake shake, and pour into a martini glass with a slice of lime. Et voila!
But maybe even more importantly, did you know that a classic cosmopolitan cocktail only takes four ingredients? I shall repeat...four ingredients?!
The Ingredients
Speaking of just 4 ingredients:
- The best cosmo ever will have freshly squeezed lime juice. Otherwise it just isn't the same!
- A splash of orange liqueur is 100% necessary. I like Cointreau best, but then again I use that in all my margarita recipes (as opposed to Triple Sec).
- Your favorite Vodka. I'm not a big Vodka drinker myself but of the few I've tried, Skyy Vodka is a solid choice.
- Last but not least, cranberry juice. This gives a cosmo it's token pink coloring.
So really when you think about it, a classic cosmopolitan cocktail is like a cranberry margarita but swap the tequila for vodka. Who knew?
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! Apparently, the cosmo we know and love today evolved from a gin based cosmopolitan in the 1930's so really you're just taking the cocktail back to its roots.
YES. Yes it does. Cranberry Juice usually has no added sugar. Cranberry Juice Cocktail on the other hand is much sweeter. I like to use cranberry Juice and adjust the sweetness with Cointreau, but a lot of people prefer to use Cranberry Juice Cocktail.
Unless you tell me the exact number of people you're serving or the amount your pitcher can hold, I can't be certain. The recipe serves 1 so simply multiply by the number of servings you want to have! A good rule for a group is to make 8ish servings, in which case multiply the recipe ingredient amounts below by 8.
Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
Description
The perfect mix of sweet and sour, this 4 ingredient classic cosmopolitan cocktail is at its best served in a chilled martini glass with a little slice of lime!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Vodka
- 1 ounce Cranberry Juice*
- ½ ounce Cointreau, Triple Sec, or Grand Marnier (I like Cointreau best)
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice for shaking
Instructions
- Add a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour all ingredients (except garnish) into the shaker.
- Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker frosts over.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime slice. Enjoy cold!
Notes
I strongly prefer my cocktails tart so I use straight cranberry juice but if you're looking for a sweeter cosmo, you can use cranberry juice cocktail instead.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaking
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