How to Make a Cosmopolitan

How to make a Cosmopolitan

This page was created mainly to teach you the basics of how to make a cosmopolitan cocktail, as well as a few delicious variations on the traditional cosmo recipe.

First : A Little History

The Cosmopolitan cocktail, also commonly referred to as a 'Cosmo' is traditionally made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, sweetened lime juice.  The original cosmopolitan recipe created in 1970 was thought to have been based on the lemon flavoured vodka known as vodka citron.

Before we begin : Quality mixing Tips

It is generally agreed by those who mix and drink Cosmopolitan cocktails that quality ingredients make for a much cleaner final drink that rolls smoothly off the palate. Some of the spirits and mixers we use to mix our cosmos are listed here.

*Insider Tip : The secret to a great cosmopolitan is the balance of the incredibly complimentary cranberry and citrus flavours.  This influences the mixers we personally buy to use.

Cointreau (or other high quailty triple sec) imparts a prized citrus boost to the flavour of the a Cosmopolitan.

Grand Marnier is a liqueur made from a blend of true cognacs and distilled essence of bitter orange which again boosts the complimentary cranberry/citrus flavourings.

Vodka - we use only Absolut Citron, again a mild citrus undertone will enhance the cocktail experience.

Lime Cordial - not the cheap green stuff!  Buy quality brands such as Roses or Bickfords which are commonly used as cocktail mixers.  We use Bickfords brand in place of home made sour mix for a smoother finish.

Our Favourite : Traditional Cosmopolitan Recipe

This is our own take on the traditional cosmopolitan recipe, instead of sour mix we substitute quality lime cordial ( either Roses or Bickford's brand ) for a smooth finish.

Ingredients

• 45ml (2.25 oz) vodka
• 30ml (1.5 oz) sour mix
• 30ml (1.5 oz) cranberry juice
• 15ml (1.25 oz) cointreau

Method

Fill martini glass with ice to chill, set aside. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Tip out ice from martini glass. Strain drink into glass and garnish with a lime twist.

Serving Suggestion

Garnish with a simple lemon twist.

For other great cosmopolitan recipe's you can visit our site at : How to Make a Cosmopolitan