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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is a bright, fruit-forward cocktail with a crisp citrus edge and a polished drinking style. Served chilled, it suits social occasions where the drink should feel clean, stylish and easy to enjoy.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic16.8% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

136 kcalCalories
16.8%ABV
9.1gSugar
10.1gCarbs
1.05Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 4 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker, fine strainer

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

Tools:Cocktail Shaker

How to Make It

  1. Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice.Shaken
  2. Shake well and double strain into large cocktail glass.Shaken
  3. Garnish with lime wheel.Garnish

Why it works

Why the Cosmopolitan works

The drink works because tart fruit, citrus and vodka create a clean, sharp profile. It is best when the cranberry supports the drink rather than making it taste like juice.

How to Serve

Glass
Cocktail Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Shake with plenty of ice and serve cold. A citrus twist helps the aroma, and a measured amount of cranberry keeps the drink crisp instead of heavy.

Taste

What does a Cosmopolitan taste like?

A Cosmopolitan is tart, lightly fruity and citrus-forward. Cranberry adds colour and a dry fruit note, while lime and orange liqueur keep it bright.

Primary flavours

CitrusSweetTart

Supporting notes

BerryFruity

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • Bright and citrusy
  • Fruity and vibrant

What do these dimensions mean?

About this drink

The Cosmopolitan is a modern classic rather than a 19th-century one. Its history runs through several 1970s and 1980s versions, with the internationally recognized citrus-vodka and cranberry style closely linked to late-1980s New York and later 1990s pop-culture popularity.

When to serve

  • Seafood DinnerSuggested from its citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

SeafoodCevicheSalads

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Vodka1 1/4 oz

GinWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect more juniper and herbal aroma.
What changes
Gin can replace vodka when a more botanical result is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lime Juice1/4 oz

Lemon JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Lemon juice can usually replace lime juice, but the drink becomes less tropical and more lemon-forward.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Cointreau1/4 oz

Triple SecGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount; reduce other sweetener if the drink becomes too sweet.
What changes
Triple sec can replace Cointreau, though the result may be softer or sweeter.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Cranberry Juice1/4 cup

Pomegranate JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust sweetness if the drink becomes too dry.
What changes
Pomegranate juice can replace cranberry juice when a deeper tart red-fruit note is acceptable.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Cosmopolitan at home?
Yes. The Cosmopolitan uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.