Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe: A Chic Classic That Still Turns Heads
December 14, 2022 2025-06-05 18:22Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe: A Chic Classic That Still Turns Heads
Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe: A Chic Classic That Still Turns Heads
Looking for a cocktail that’s classy, citrusy, and straight out of a 90s Manhattan lounge? The Cosmopolitan is calling.
With its blush-pink hue and crisp, tart balance of vodka, cranberry, and citrus, this one’s always a hit.
Keep reading to discover how to make the perfect Cosmo (plus some fun history and bar tips along the way)
" Cosmopolitan "
The Story Behind the Cosmopolitan Cocktail
The Cosmopolitan didn’t just show up in the 90s, though that’s when it hit mainstream fame, thanks in part to Sex and the City.
Earlier versions of this stylish pink drink date all the way back to the 1930s, with a recipe called the Cosmopolitan Daisy appearing in Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars.
Later, versions of the modern Cosmo popped up on both coasts of the US, and while several bartenders have claimed its invention, its popularity truly exploded around 1990.
What made it stick? A perfect mix of sweet cranberry, sharp citrus, and vodka’s clean bite, all served in a chilled martini glass. Iconic.
Let's try it out together
Ingredients
30 ml ( 1 oz ) Vodka
15 ml ( 0.5 oz ) Triple Sec
15 ml ( 0.5 oz ) Cranberry Juice
Half Lemon Squeeze
Orange Peel Twist Garnish
How to do it
- Pour Vodka into the Easy Peasy Cobbler using a Liquid Pourer until you reach the first engraved measurement line
- Add Triple Sec using a Pourer too, until you reach the second measurement line
- Squeeze Half a Lemon inside, using a lemon squeezer
- Fill up the last measurements lines with Cranberry Juice
- Add ice cubes & Shake Well
- Strain the cocktail into the Circletini Glass
- Garnish with an Orange Peel Twist
Salud !
Pro Tip: Always Pre-Chill Your Glass
For cocktails served “up” like the Cosmopolitan, temperature matters.
Pre-chill your coupe or martini glass by popping it in the freezer for a few minutes or filling it with ice while you prep.
This keeps the cocktail crisp and refreshing from the first sip to the last.
If you’re skipping this step for aesthetics (like we sometimes do in our videos), just know you’re sacrificing a bit of that cool bite.
