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A Cosmopolitan co*cktail is a simple four-ingredient vodka drink that is so easy to make at home. It’s my absolute favorite drink and it’s so easy to make it at home – save your money and host happy hour with a bunch of these martinis!
Best Cosmopolitan Drink
A classic cosmo co*cktail is my absolute favorite martini recipe and I never realized how easy they are to make at home. This drink became all the rage in the 1990s – that’s when I discovered how much I like it.
I love going out for a drink, but sometimes drink prices – especially for co*cktails – are so expensive…plus I like being in my pajamas. So, I say let’s have an at-home happy hour, shall we? And I have the perfect drink for you to try: a classic cosmopolitan! You just need fresh lime juice, vodka, cranberry juice, and triple sec.
I’ve been making this co*cktail for years – I first fell in love with it the night I got engaged – and have been loving them ever since.
Cosmopolitan co*cktail Ingredients
You only need four ingredients to make it. It’s sweet, tart and pink – perfect for a girl’s night happy hour, but the fellas love them, too (my husband included).
- Vodka – pick your favorite brand! I love Tito’s but I know Absolut Citron Vodka is good too, it adds more citrus flavor. Just use a top shelf vodka so you enjoy the drink more.
- Triple sec – also called orange liqueur or cointreau, this adds a pop of orange flavor
- Cranberry juice – Use unsweetened cranberry juice to give the drink it’s signature pink color and adds tartness, but you can also use sweetened if you like a sweeter drink.
- Lime juice – adds a fresh splash of citrus, plus a slice of lime for garnish.
- Simple Syrup – I do not add simple syrup to my drink becuse I find the triple sec adds enough sugar. But if you want a sweeter drink add some to taste.
How to Make a Cosmo Martini
- Add all ingredients to a shaker full of ice, secure the cap and shake it for at least 10 seconds. I took a mixology class once and the bartender told us the secret to a good martini is how long you shake it!
- Open it up strain the drink into the glass. Add a slice of lime for garnish!
Make a pitcher of Cosmopolitan Drink
The recipe I’m sharing is for one drink, but you can easily scale it up and make a big batch of cosmopolitans for dinner parties – or a bachelorette party!
I often like to mix it all and then shake as I go, so I’m not measuring out ingredients during a party.
To scale up your drink: multiply the ingredients by the number of co*cktails you’ll need. I figure two per person!
Just mix all of the ingredients in a pitcher and keep it the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve the drinks. Then you can shake and serve individual cosmos when you’re ready.
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- You will also need a martini glass and a co*cktail shaker.Use a chilled co*cktail glass for an even icier co*cktail!
- The shaker makes a big difference in preparing the drink. It’s an easy way to mix the ingredients, but it also quickly chills the drink with ice. That way, you don’t have to add ice to the actual drink which can dilute it.
- Some restaurants will serve this drink with an orange twist or orange peel, but I prefer a lime garnish.
- Don’t like vodka? Substitute gin!
FAQs
Is cosmopolitan a strong drink?
I think this is the perfect cosmopolitan recipe, but feel free to play around with it and adjust to your liking! You can add or reduce the vodka to adjust the strength.
Is cosmopolitan a sweet drink?
This is the perfect balance of sweet and tart for my taste but if you want a sweeter drink you can add some simple syrup or more juice or triple sec. For a stronger or less sweet drink, reduce the triple sec.
Cosmopolitan co*cktail Recipe
5 from 4 votes
A Cosmopolitan co*cktail is a simple four-ingredient vodka drink that is so easy to make at home. It’s pink, a little tart and a little sweet and a perfect co*cktail for happy hour!
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 5 minutes minutes
Yield 1 co*cktail
Serving Size 1 serving
Save RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce lime juice
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a co*cktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 10 seconds.
Strain into martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.
Recipe Notes
TIP: for a party, make a pitcher then measure out each drink and shake and serve. This way you’re not measuring all night long. To scale it up: multiply each ingredient by the number of drinks (figure at least 2 per person). Then to make your drink, measure out 4 ounces of the mixture, shake and serve.
Recipe Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 7mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern
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