Cosmopolitan cocktail in a martini glass

Cocktail · Vodka Cocktails

Cosmopolitan Recipe

Name: Cosmopolitan
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 40 ml Vodka; 15 ml Triple sec; 30 ml Cranberry juice; 15 ml Fresh lime juice

Vodka, cranberry, orange liqueur and lime, served up.

Vodka

Base Spirit

~18%

Approx ABV

Easy

Difficulty

3 min

Prep Time

🥂 Martini glass 🧊 None, served up Tart, fruity, crisp

The Cosmopolitan is a tart, pink, shaken drink. Fresh lime and a dry style of orange liqueur keep it from tasting like juice.

Ingredients

Makes

40 ml Vodka Citrus vodka works well
15 ml Triple sec
30 ml Cranberry juice
15 ml Fresh lime juice

Garnish: Orange peel

How to Make a Cosmopolitan

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake hard for 10 seconds.
Double strain into a chilled martini glass.
Express an orange peel over the top and drop it in.

Best Bottles for a Cosmopolitan in India

Top pick

Absolut Vodka

From ₹380 · ★ 7.8/10
Clean base for cranberry and lime

Budget

Smirnoff No. 21

★ 9.2/10
Easy value option

Premium

Grey Goose Vodka

From ₹3,500 · ★ 8.2/10
Softer texture for a silkier Cosmo

Alternative

Smirnoff Orange

Orange vodka in place of citrus vodka

Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.

Tips for a Better Cosmopolitan

Use clear cranberry juice drink, not cranberry cocktail from concentrate, for the best colour and tartness.
Chill the glass so the drink stays cold while you sip it.

About the Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan took shape in the United States in the 1980s. Cheryl Cook, a bartender in South Beach, Miami, says she created a pink drink of citrus vodka, triple sec, lime cordial and cranberry around 1985 for customers who wanted to be seen holding a martini glass.

The version made today is credited to Toby Cecchini, who reworked it at The Odeon in New York in 1988 with Absolut Citron, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and just enough cranberry to turn it pink. Dale DeGroff then popularised it at the Rainbow Room and added the flamed orange peel.

The television series Sex and the City turned it into the defining cocktail of the late 1990s. It is an IBA official cocktail and has returned to menus in the 2020s along with other vodka drinks of that era.

Cosmopolitan Variations

White Cosmopolitan: white cranberry juice and elderflower liqueur for a clear drink.
Cosmo Royale: top a smaller Cosmopolitan with chilled sparkling wine.
Gin Cosmopolitan: London dry gin in place of vodka.
French Cosmopolitan: Grand Marnier in place of triple sec.
Virgin Cosmopolitan: cranberry juice, orange juice and lime, shaken and served up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Cosmopolitan?

A Cosmopolitan is made with 40ml (1.25 oz) vodka, 15ml (0.5 oz) triple sec, 30ml (1 oz) cranberry juice and 15ml (0.5 oz) fresh lime juice. It is served in a martini glass.

How strong is a Cosmopolitan?

Made to this recipe, a Cosmopolitan is about 18% ABV and contains roughly 17 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.2 US standard drinks, 1.7 Australian standard drinks or 2.2 UK units. It has around 155 calories per serving.

What vodka is best for a Cosmopolitan?

Citrus vodka is the original choice, and Absolut Citron was used in the 1988 recipe. Any clean, neutral vodka works if you finish the drink with an orange or lemon twist.

Which cranberry juice should you use?

Use sweetened cranberry juice cocktail for the classic taste. If you use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice, add 5 to 10ml of sugar syrup.

Why is my Cosmopolitan too sweet or too red?

There is too much cranberry. The drink should be pale pink, not red. Keep the cranberry to 30ml or less and use fresh lime juice, not cordial.

Is Cointreau the same as triple sec?

Cointreau is a premium triple sec bottled at 40% ABV with a cleaner orange flavour. Cheaper triple secs are sweeter and lower in alcohol.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026