Christmas Cosmopolitan
A festive Cosmopolitan with vodka, cranberry, lime and triple sec, finished with sugared cranberries for a bright, jewel-toned holiday cocktail.
Ingredients
- 45 ml citrus vodka
- 30 ml cranberry juice — unsweetened or lightly sweetened
- 20 ml triple sec
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 5 fresh cranberries — for the sugared garnish
- 1 tbsp caster sugar — for the sugared garnish
- 1 egg white — for the sugared garnish, lightly beaten
Method
- Dip the fresh cranberries briefly in lightly beaten egg white, then roll them in caster sugar and set on baking paper to dry for ten minutes.
- Add the vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for ten seconds until very cold.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
- Garnish with three or four sugared cranberries on a cocktail pick laid across the rim.
How to serve
- Glassware
- Coupe or martini glass
- Serve temperature
- Cold
- Garnish
- Sugared cranberries on a pick
The Cosmopolitan was the defining cocktail of the late nineties, bright pink and impossibly photogenic on every cocktail menu. The Christmas Cosmopolitan keeps that signature look and adds a small seasonal trick: a cluster of sugared cranberries that catch the light like tiny ornaments on the rim. The drink itself stays close to the canonical version, tart and clean, which is what makes it such a reliable opener on a holiday evening.
A genuine cranberry character is non-negotiable. Cheap cranberry drinks are mostly apple and sugar; for the right balance you want a juice with real fruit and a clear, sharp finish.
Tips
Chill your glass properly, either in the freezer for fifteen minutes or with a scoop of ice and a splash of cold water while you mix the drink. Shake hard and briefly; a long shake over-dilutes a Cosmopolitan and dulls the citrus edge. The sugared cranberries are mostly a visual flourish, but they also nibble nicely between sips and pick up the lime in the drink.
Variations
A teaspoon of pomegranate molasses adds depth and a faintly Christmas-pudding note. Swap the citrus vodka for a vanilla vodka for a softer, slightly dessert-style version. A small spritz of orange-peel oil across the surface, in addition to the sugared cranberries, gives the drink an extra festive aroma at the first sip.
Serving
Serve straight after pouring while the glass is still frosted and the foam line from the shake is clean and white. A small dish of salted nuts alongside balances the tartness and keeps the cocktail feeling more apero than dessert.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice?
Unsweetened gives a cleaner, tarter drink and matches the original spirit of the Cosmopolitan. If you only have sweetened cranberry juice, reduce the triple sec by 5 ml.
How far ahead can I make the sugared cranberries?
Up to a day. Keep them in a single layer on baking paper at room temperature so the sugar shell stays crisp and the fruit does not weep.
Can I make this without triple sec?
Yes, swap in Cointreau for a slightly drier finish, or use 10 ml of orange syrup if you would rather keep it lower in alcohol.
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