Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice
Shake hard until well chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Express a flamed orange zest over the surface and discard or drop in
Glassware
Served up in a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish
Flamed over drink
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use unsweetened cranberry juice for a drier balance
A flamed orange peel adds aromatic complexity
Chill the glass well to keep the drink bracing
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Cosmopolitan.
White Cosmopolitan
A sophisticated and elegant reinterpretation of the classic Cosmopolitan, swapping cranberry juice for elderflower liqueur and white cranberry juice for a delicate, floral sweetness and crystal-clear appearance.
Cosmopolitan Royale
A bubbly Cosmo—vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime finished with brut Champagne.
Other Variations
Classic Vodka
Swaps the citrus vodka for a neutral spirit and ups the cranberry for a deeper pink.
Changes
Rose's Cosmo
Adds a bar spoon of cranberry jam or syrup for extra texture and sweetness.
Changes
History & Heritage
“Though similar drinks appeared in the 1970s, the Cosmopolitan coalesced in the 1980s when Miami bartender Cheryl Cook combined citrus vodka, triple sec, lime, and cranberry for a martini drink that looked good on camera. Toby Cecchini refined the recipe at New York's Odeon using fresh juice, and the cocktail exploded in popularity after featuring prominently on *Sex and the City* in the late 1990s, cementing its status as a cultural icon.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Margarita
Tequila, lime and orange liqueur in flawless harmony—Mexico's most famous cocktail and a symbol of celebration.
Yellow Bird
A classic tropical cocktail celebrated for its vibrant, sunny hue and refreshingly complex flavor profile, blending rum with the distinctive vanilla-anise notes of Galliano L'Autentico.
Cosmopolitan Royale
A bubbly Cosmo—vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime finished with brut Champagne.