A Cosmo is a delicious cocktail that is both beautiful and easy to make. Cranberry juice, lime juice, triple sec, and vodka are shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass. What a great cocktail to enjoy with your friends!

Thank you to Princess Cruises for sponsoring and inspiring this cosmo recipe and hosting our cruise & serving us loads of amazing seafood!

Cosmo cocktails with lime

There are many cocktails to choose from, but this easy Cosmo is one of the best. Often mistaken for a martini because it is traditionally served in a martini glass. But make no mistake this drink is definitely one of a kind.

I’m sure you have been like me, peeking at the cocktail menu trying to decide what to order and wondered, what is a cosmo? A cosmo is short for Cosmopolitan, a fancy drink made traditionally with gin, triple sec, lemon and raspberry juices. Its exact origin is unclear but it seems to have become popular during the 1930’s. It gained popularity again in the 1990’s because it was mentioned and ordered often by the characters in the tv show Sex and the City.

I love having a cosmo when I go out, it’s tart and very slightly sweet (I don’t love super sweet drinks). The perfect frosty cocktail to sip on with spending time with friends.

Cosmo cocktails on a wooden board with lime

The inspiration for this drink comes from a recent vacation I took with my husband!

We went on an Alaskan cruise with Princess Cruises  this year! Alaska is hands down one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever visited. Not only was Alaska gorgeous, the cruise was so much fun! Regardless of whether we were on the boat or on the shore, there were endless things to do!

While we were off the ship, we did some amazing excursions at each stop!  There were so many fun excursions to choose from, all kinds of adventures and things to do and see!

Alaska

We did several tours and I do have to say that the Glacier Point Wilderness Tour in Skagway was amazing! I think my favorite was in Icy Straight, we went on a Whale Watching and Seafood Feast tour. We saw tons of wildlife, from eagles and whales to sea otters! Once we got off the whale watching tour, we had a crab/shrimp boil (which inspired these yummy Shrimp Boil Foil Packets).

As much as we loved the excursions, being at sea (and on the boat) was so much fun!

We enjoyed some amazing wines at a wine tasting, played bingo and spent time with our friends doing fun things like games and trivia (check out the onboard activities here)! Evenings we went for amazing meals and then there were shows to see and a few nightclubs we would visit to have drinks, dance and just sit and have a great time!

Cruise ship

I think some of those moments, just enjoying cocktails with my friends, were my favorites! It was truly a getaway, so relaxing and just what I needed!

We enjoyed many a cosmo on board which has inspired me to share this yummy cocktail recipe with you!

How to make a Cosmo?

It truly is a very simple drink to make.

  • First, you will need to assemble a martini shaker, ice, and cosmo ingredients; cranberry juice, lime juice, Cointreau, and vodka.
  • Fill the martini shaker with ice, then add the cosmo ingredients. Cover and shake.
  • Fill a martini or other tall glass and enjoy! Really that easy!

This Cosmo Drink Recipe is perfectly refreshing and tasty just the way it is, but what if you don’t have the exact ingredients or tools on hand? What are good substitutes? Gin can be substituted for Vodka and lemon juice can be substituted for lime juice. If you do not have a martini shaker, the drink can be stirred in a mixing glass. And if you prefer, you can make a virgin cosmo by replacing the vodka and Cointreau with orange juice and pink lemonade.

A Cosmo is a fun drink to enjoy at a dinner party or when you are out with friends. Try it next time you have a special dinner planned!

Cosmo cocktails with lime
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Cosmo Cocktail Recipe

Chilled cosmos are a delicious and easy cocktail for sipping on.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Author Holly

Ingredients  

  • 2.5 oz cranberry juice
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz triple sec or Cointreau
  • 3 oz vodka chilled

Instructions 

  • Fill a martini shaker with ice.
  • Add all ingredients and shake very well (the colder the better).
  • Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of lime.
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Nutrition Information

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 27mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 7.6mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Drinks
Cuisine American

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Cosmo cocktail in a glass with lime as garnish with writing

 

Cosmo cocktail in a glass with lime and a title

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