Cosmopolitan
Ingredients
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- 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka
- 3/4 ounces Cointreau
- 1 ounce cranberry juice cocktail
- 1/2 ounce lime juice – freshly squeezed (~0.5 medium limes)
- 2 cups ice
- orange – wide peel expressed and trimmed (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Place a cocktail (martini) glass in the freezer until well-chilled, 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, add the citrus vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice cocktail, and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker; the mixture will look pale ruby.
3. Fill the shaker with ice, seal, and shake hard until frosty and well-aerated, 12–15 seconds.
4. Double-strain into the chilled glass, catching any ice shards; strain until the stream slows, about 5 seconds.
5. Express a wide orange peel over the surface (optionally flame the oils by briefly passing a lit match under the peel as you squeeze, 1–2 seconds), rub the rim with the peel, and drop it in; serve immediately.
The cosmopolitan is a crisp, tart-sweet, citrus-driven cocktail with a luminous blush color. Citrus vodka lays a clean, zesty base, Cointreau adds bright orange aromatics, fresh lime brings snap, and cranberry juice cocktail lends color and gentle sweetness. Served up and ice-cold, it’s silky from vigorous shaking and aromatically lifted by an expressed orange peel.
Born in the late 20th century United States and popularized in upscale bars, the drink evolved as bartenders refined the balance of citrus, orange liqueur, and cranberry. A version using citrus vodka, fresh lime juice, and Cointreau became the template in notable New York bars and spread widely in the 1990s. Its sleek presentation and pop-culture spotlight cemented the cosmopolitan as a modern classic in the contemporary cocktail canon.