5 Cosmopolitan Variations to Try at Home

The Cosmopolitan is one of the most iconic cocktails in the world — so beloved it even has its own day, National Cosmopolitan Day, celebrated every year on May 7th. “It’s a citrus phenomenon,” shares Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

The classic Cosmopolitan is made with Absolut Citron, triple sec, sweetened cranberry juice and fresh lime juice, garnished with a strip of orange zest. But if you already know and love the original, here are five variations worth exploring — each one a different take on the same iconic formula.

What are the Best Cosmopolitan Variations?

Swap the vodka, change the juice and the whole character of the drink shifts. Here are five of our favorite Cosmopolitan variations, including one alcohol-free version for those who prefer a mocktail:

• White Cosmopolitan
• Absolut Lime Cosmopolitan
• Blood Orange Cosmo
• Virgin Cosmopolitan
• Blue Cosmopolitan

How Do You Make a White Cosmopolitan?

The White Cosmopolitan follows the classic recipe but swaps sweetened cranberry juice for white cranberry juice — milder, slightly sweeter and without the signature pink hue. Controversial? A little. Worth trying? Absolutely!

Ingredients:

• 40 ml Absolut Citron
• 20 ml Triple Sec
• 20 ml White Cranberry Juice
• 20 ml Lime Juice
• Orange Zest to garnish
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a White Cosmopolitan:

1. Use a citrus press to juice half a lime and measure 20ml into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add 40 ml Absolut Citron, 20 ml triple sec and 20 ml white cranberry juice.
3. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
4. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a strip of orange zest.

How Do You Make an Absolut Lime Cosmopolitan?

The Absolut Lime Cosmopolitan keeps everything that makes the original great and swaps Absolut Citron for Absolut Lime — our lime-flavored vodka. The result is a sharper, more citrus-forward Cosmo where lime takes center stage.

Ingredients:

• 40 ml Absolut Lime
• 20 ml Triple Sec
• 20 ml Sweetened Cranberry Juice
• 20 ml Lime Juice
• Orange Zest to garnish
• Ice Cubes

How to Make an Absolut Lime Cosmopolitan:

1. Use a citrus press to juice half a lime and measure 20ml into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add 40 ml Absolut Lime, 20 ml triple sec and 20 ml cranberry juice.
3. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
4. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a strip of orange zest.

How Do You Make a Blood Orange Cosmo?

The Blood Orange Cosmo swaps Absolut Citron for Absolut Mandrin — our mandarin-flavored vodka — and adds blood orange juice alongside the classic cranberry and lime. Fruity, citrusy and one of the most visually striking variations on this list.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Absolut Mandrin
• 10 ml Blood Orange Juice
• 5 ml Lime Juice
• 15 ml Triple Sec
• Blood Orange Zest
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Blood Orange Cosmo:

1. Use a jigger to measure and add 45 ml Absolut Mandrin into a cocktail shaker.
2. Measure and add 15 ml triple sec.
3. Use a citrus press to juice 5 ml of fresh lime juice then add it to the shaker.
4. Measure add 15 ml blood orange juice.
5. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
6. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass.
7. Garnish with a strip of orange zest.

Watch Rico show you how to make a Blood Orange Cosmo:

How Do You Make a Virgin Cosmopolitan?

The Virgin Cosmopolitan is the alcohol-free version of the classic — sweetened cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass. Finished with orange bitters and a strip of orange zest.

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Sweetened Cranberry Juice
• 20 ml Fresh Lime Juice
• 20 ml Fresh Orange Juice
• 10 ml Simple Syrup
• Orange Bitters to finish
• Orange Zest to garnish
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Virgin Cosmopolitan:

1. Use a citrus press to juice half a lime and measure 20 ml into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add 60 ml cranberry juice, 20 ml orange juice and 10 ml simple syrup.
3. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
4. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Add a dash of orange bitters and garnish with a strip of orange zest.

How Do You Make a Blue Cosmopolitan?

The Blue Cosmopolitan is the most visually striking variation on this list — Absolut Citron, white cranberry juice, blue curaçao, fresh lime juice and lemon zest. The blue curaçao replaces triple sec, giving the drink its distinctive color and a slightly different citrus character.

Ingredients:

• 40 ml Absolut Citron
• 20 ml Blue Curaçao
• 20 ml White Cranberry Juice
• 20 ml Fresh Lime Juice
• Lemon Zest to garnish
• Ice Cubes

How to Make a Blue Cosmopolitan:

1. Use a citrus press to juice half a lime and measure 20 ml into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add 40 ml Absolut Citron, 20 ml blue curaçao and 20 ml white cranberry juice.
3. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
4. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a strip of lemon zest.

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Looking for more drink-spiration? Explore our cocktail recipes.