Cosmopolitan recipe
Lemon vodka, Cointreau, lime juice and cranberry juice, shaken and strained into a cocktail glass, garnished with a slice of lime.
By Kris Barton · Updated - 2 mins total
- 5 ingredients
- Cocktail glass
What Ingredients do you need to make a Cosmopolitan?
Vodka
We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.
It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.
Cointreau
Cointreau is an orange-flavoured Triple Sec liqueur.
Cointreau was first sold in 1875 and has become a well-established popular brand ever since, selling around 13 million bottles a year in 150 different countries.
Cranberry Juice
As you’d expect, Cranberry Juice is made out of Cranberries – but it also contains sugar and other fruit juices.
The Cranberry is a fruit native to North America and is recognised for its bright red colour, tart taste, and its sheer versatility.
Cranberries can be used to make a whole host of things:
- Cranberry Juice
- Cranberry Sauce
- Frozen Cranberries
- Various dietary supplements that contain Cranberry extract.
For Cranberry Juice, we recommend:
What Equipment do you need to make a Cosmopolitan?
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bond says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed cocktail shaker comparison.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
Cocktail Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
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Recipe card
Cosmopolitan
- Prep
- 1 min
- Making
- 1 min
- Total
- 2 mins
- Serves
- 1
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add ice, lemon vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice to your cocktail shaker.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime.
No cocktail shaker? Do this instead
- Add ice, lemon vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice to a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime.
Want more like this? Browse our full collection of classic cocktails.
Cosmopolitan FAQs
What Ingredients do you need to make a Cosmopolitan?
To make a Cosmopolitan, you need 40ml / 1.4oz lemon vodka, 15ml / 0.5oz Cointreau, 15ml / 0.5oz lime juice and 30ml / 1oz cranberry juice, plus a slice of lime to garnish. There’s more about vodka, Cointreau and cranberry juice above.
What Equipment do you need to make a Cosmopolitan?
You’ll need a cocktail shaker and a cocktail glass.
What alcohol is in a Cosmopolitan?
A Cosmopolitan contains 40ml / 1.4oz lemon vodka and 15ml / 0.5oz Cointreau.
Is a Cosmopolitan shaken or stirred?
A Cosmopolitan is shaken. Shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain it into a cocktail glass.
Can I make a Cosmopolitan without a cocktail shaker?
No. Without a cocktail shaker, you can make a Cosmopolitan like this: Add ice, lemon vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice to a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.
What glass is a Cosmopolitan served in?
Serve a Cosmopolitan in a cocktail glass.
How do you garnish a Cosmopolitan?
Garnish a Cosmopolitan with a slice of lime.
How do I make a Cosmopolitan for a group?
The recipe makes one drink. Multiply every measure by the number of drinks you want: for 4, you’d need 160ml lemon vodka, 60ml Cointreau, 60ml lime juice and 120ml cranberry juice. Shake one or two drinks at a time, so there’s room in the shaker for the ice.
