Mixpert editorial recipe

Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Name: Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/3 fl oz citrus vodka; 1/2 fl oz orange liqueur; 1 fl oz cranberry juice cocktail; 1/2 fl oz fresh lime juice; 1 cup ice; 1 strip orange peel

The right proportions keep this famous pink cocktail citrus-forward and tart, with cranberry for color rather than overwhelming sweetness.

By Mixpert KitchenReviewed for clear measures, practical steps, and nutrition consistency.Our recipe standard

Ready in5 minMakes1 servingCalories · estimated per serving153Total sugar · estimated per serving7g

Blush-pink Cosmopolitan in a coupe with an orange twist, with citrus and cranberries on a dark marble.

Legal drinking age · Enjoy responsibly

What you’ll need

Ingredients

1 1/3 fl ozcitrus vodka
1/2 fl ozorange liqueur · about 15 mL of labeled product counted for nutrition
1 fl ozcranberry juice cocktail
1/2 fl ozfresh lime juice · about 15 g counted for nutrition
1 cupice
1 striporange peel · about 2 g counted for nutrition

Estimated nutrition per serving

153Calories0gProtein9gCarbs0gFatNot reliably estimatedFiber7gTotal sugarNot reliably estimatedAdded sugar

Nutrition values are calculated estimates for the listed ingredients, preparation, and serving size. Ingredient brands, substitutions, preparation, and serving size can change the result.

Not reliably estimated: Fiber — Cointreau L'Unique (US), 40% alcohol by volume; 93 kcal and 6.8 g carbohydrate/total sugar per 30 mL does not report fiber. Added sugar — Cointreau L'Unique (US), 40% alcohol by volume; 93 kcal and 6.8 g carbohydrate/total sugar per 30 mL does not report added sugar. Other displayed values remain estimates from their cited records.

Calculation assumptions

Estimated with 40% ABV citrus vodka, typical orange liqueur, and cranberry juice cocktail. Product labels vary.

Serving basis: The calculated batch is divided into 1 equal serving.

Estimated alcohol: about 1.2 U.S. standard drinks. Approximately 120 calories come from ethanol at 7 kcal per gram.

Method: Nutrition is estimated from listed mass quantities or the stated label-volume basis, preparation, and cited composition data. A label-volume equivalent is not a measured gram weight. Actual values vary by brand, produce size, preparation method, and serving yield.

Quality check: database or declared-label energy is checked against macro-derived energy. Variances above 8% are blocked for review unless a documented food-specific or rounding explanation has been approved.

USDA FoodData Central ↗

See modeled quantities and references

citrus vodka · 37.3 gCitrus vodka, 40% alcohol by volume · Declared Mixpert product profile · Mixpert declared profile: citrus-vodka-40-abv ↗ · Mixpert declared-label set 2026-09-12 (verified 2026-09-15). Included in nutrition.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 100 g derived basis. Derived from the declared formulation; ethanol energy is calculated separately at 7 kcal/g.
orange liqueur · 15 mL (label-volume basis)Cointreau L'Unique (US), 40% alcohol by volume; 93 kcal and 6.8 g carbohydrate/total sugar per 30 mL · Declared Mixpert product profile · Cointreau L'Unique nutrition declaration (US market) ↗ · Manufacturer declaration accessed 2026-09-15 (verified 2026-09-15). Included in nutrition.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 1 fl oz (30 mL). The 30 mL declaration is scaled directly by recipe volume using 1 mL as 1 g-equivalent. Declared calories already include alcohol energy; ethanol is retained only for the independent reconciliation check.
cranberry juice cocktail · 30 mL (label-volume basis)Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail; 110 kcal, 28 g carbohydrate, 25 g total sugar, and 23 g added sugar per 8 fl oz · Declared Mixpert product profile · Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail nutrition label ↗ · Manufacturer label accessed 2026-09-15 (verified 2026-09-15). Included in nutrition.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 8 fl oz (240 mL). The declared serving is normalized to 100 g using the profile's stated gram or volume-to-mass assumption, then scaled to the recipe quantity.
fresh lime juice · 15.1 gLime juice, raw · USDA FoodData Central · FDC 168156 · SR Legacy ↗ · FoodData Central SR Legacy April 2018 (verified 2026-09-15). Included in nutrition.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 100 g. Recipe quantity is converted to grams using the canonical household-measure table before scaling the 100 g record.
ice · 236.6 gWater, tap · USDA FoodData Central · FDC 173647 · SR Legacy ↗ · FoodData Central SR Legacy April 2018 (verified 2026-09-15). Water or ice contributes no energy. Water retained in the drink, including melted or blended ice, is consumed; this is not an omitted nutrient value or a claim that it is discarded.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 100 g. Recipe quantity is converted to grams using the canonical household-measure table before scaling the 100 g record.
orange peel · 2 gOrange peel, raw · USDA FoodData Central · FDC 169103 · SR Legacy ↗ · FoodData Central SR Legacy April 2018 (verified 2026-09-15). Included in nutrition.
Calculation basis
Reference serving: 100 g. Recipe quantity is converted to grams using the canonical household-measure table before scaling the 100 g record.

Sugar checkOrange liqueur and sweetened cranberry juice provide most of the sugar; brands vary, so check both labels for the closest estimate.

Step by step

Make it like a pro.

01
Chill a coupe or cocktail glass while you measure the ingredients.
02
Add citrus vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice, and ice to a shaker; shake firmly for 12 to 15 seconds.
03
Double-strain into the chilled glass, express the orange peel over the surface, and use it as the garnish.

Affiliate links

Tools for This Recipe

Helpful equipment for making this recipe at home.

Cocktail shakerOXO Steel Cocktail Shaker with Strainer, 24 ozOXO

A practical stainless-steel shaker for chilled cocktails and mocktails.

View on Amazon JiggerOXO SteeL Double JiggerOXO

A compact double-ended measure for consistent drink proportions.

View on Amazon Citrus pressChef’n FreshForce Citrus JuicerChef’n

A handheld press for extracting fresh lemon, lime, and orange juice.

View on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy swaps

Use plain vodka plus one small strip of orange peel in the shaker when citrus vodka is unavailable.
Choose unsweetened cranberry juice and add one teaspoon simple syrup for more control over sweetness.
Serve in a small martini glass if you do not have a coupe.

Mixpert tips

Use enough ice to fill the shaker at least halfway for proper chilling.
Double-straining catches small ice chips and lime pulp for a polished texture.

Good to know

Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail FAQs

Can I use unsweetened cranberry juice in a Cosmopolitan?

Yes, but it is much tarter than the cranberry juice cocktail measured here. Start with the listed citrus vodka, orange liqueur, and lime, then adjust the cranberry component and taste before serving. The original sweetness and nutrition estimates would not apply.

Can I mix a Cosmopolitan ahead of serving?

You can measure the citrus vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice cocktail, and lime juice into a covered container and chill it briefly. Shake each serving with fresh ice and strain into a chilled glass just before drinking. A finished shaken cocktail loses its cold, lively texture as it sits.

Is a Cosmopolitan sweet or sour?

A balanced Cosmopolitan is tart and citrus-forward with moderate sweetness. Too much cranberry juice can make it taste sugary and muted.

Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Make it like a pro.

Tools for This Recipe

Easy swaps

Mixpert tips

You might also like

Classic Margarita

Classic Moscow Mule

Classic Whiskey Sour

Classic Cosmopolitan Cocktail FAQs

Want a version made for you?