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Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe: A Step-By-Step Guide To Making The Classic Drink

Yash Lakhan

May 14, 2025

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The pink-hued cosmopolitan has long held a place on bar menus across the world, with its recognisable appeal making it a consistent feature in casual and formal drinking settings. The sense of ease and familiarity of the vodka-based cocktail along with the use of minimal ingredients makes it easy to recreate even in home bar set-ups.

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Ingredients (Serves 1)

30 ml vodka 15 ml triple sec 30 ml sweetened cranberry juice 15 ml fresh lime juice Lime peel twist or lime wheel, for garnish

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Step 1

Chill the serving glass by placing it in the freezer or swirling some ice water in it for a few minutes, before discarding the liquid.

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Step 2

In a shaker, add the vodka, triple sec, cranberry and lime juice, along with a few handfuls of ice cubes.

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Step 3

Shake thoroughly for 15-20 seconds, until the ingredients are well chilled or the surface of the shaker is cold to touch before straining the cocktail into a chilled glass.

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Step 4

Garnish with a lime wheel or peel twist for best presentation and serve.

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Key Tip 1

Use freshly squeezed lime juice for a cleaner, fresher flavour—bottled juice blunts the cocktail’s crispness and changes its balance.

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Key Tip 2

Shake the cocktail vigorously with plenty of ice to chill and dilute properly; a light shake produces a flat, less appealing drink. *Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.