Modern mixology•drink•beginner

Modern Cosmopolitan (Clear, Crisp, Grown‑Up)

Name: Modern Cosmopolitan (Clear, Crisp, Grown‑Up)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Modern mixology
Ingredients: 50 ml vodka (citrus vodka recommended); 20 ml dry curaçao; 25 ml 100% cranberry juice, clarified if possible; 15 ml fresh lime juice; 5 ml rich simple syrup (2:1); 0.2 ml 20% saline solution (optional) or a tiny pinch of fine sea salt; 0.5 ml orange bitters; Cubed ice, for shaking; 1 wide strip orange zest (about 3 × 8 cm), for garnish

A sleek, modern Cosmopolitan: crisp, drier, and beautifully clear—pop‑culture classic meets contemporary mixology.

VegetarianVeganGluten-FreeDairy-Free🥜Nut-Free

A crystal-clear modern Cosmopolitan cocktail in a chilled coupe with an orange twist on a marble bar.

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

- min

Total Time

5 min

Servings

Neon ’90s glamour gets a sleek reboot: imagine the Cosmo stepping off a city sidewalk and into a minimalist cocktail bar—still flirty, but sharper, drier, and brilliantly clear. Pop-culture pedigree intact, this version leans on precise balance, clean juice, and a whisper of saline to make flavors sing without the syrupy sweetness of the past. It’s Sex and the City meets contemporary mixology.

For a modern edge, keep the cranberry unsweetened and, if you can, briefly clarify it through a coffee filter for that jewel-like glow. Dry curaçao brings elegant orange notes, while a measured touch of rich syrup rounds off the lime’s brightness. A tiny hit of saline (or a pinch of salt) is the behind-the-scenes trick that sharpens fruit and smooths vodka’s edges—subtle, transformative, and very now.

Ingredients

Choose quality vodka and unsweetened cranberry for a drier balance. Clarifying the juice is optional but delivers that polished, bar‑cart shine.

50 ml vodka (citrus vodka recommended)
20 ml dry curaçao
25 ml 100% cranberry juice, clarified if possible
15 ml fresh lime juice
5 ml rich simple syrup (2:1)
0.2 ml 20% saline solution (optional) or a tiny pinch of fine sea salt
0.5 ml orange bitters
Cubed ice, for shaking
1 wide strip orange zest (about 3 × 8 cm), for garnish

Nutrients

vitamin Csource
From lime and cranberry juice

Instructions

Work cold, work fast: a hard shake with plenty of ice gives sheen and a fine, frothy rim without dilution overload.

1
Chill a coupe glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes.
2
Optional clarity: pass the cranberry juice through a damp coffee filter set in a funnel; let gravity do the work for a brighter look and cleaner snap.
3
Add vodka, dry curaçao, cranberry juice, lime juice, rich syrup, saline (or pinch of salt), and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker.
4
Fill with plenty of cubed ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is frosty.
5
Fine‑strain into the chilled coupe.
6
Express the orange zest over the surface to perfume, then garnish with the zest or discard after expressing for a cleaner line.

Chef's Tip

Taste test before straining: if it’s a touch sharp, add 2–3 ml more rich syrup; if it’s too sweet, add 5 ml more cranberry or 2 ml lime. Keep citrus and spirits well-chilled for best texture.

Fun Fact

The Cosmo’s modern fame soared in the ’90s via Sex and the City, but bartender Toby Cecchini popularized a refined version in late-’80s New York using Absolut Citron, Cointreau, lime, and cranberry.

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I'm a web developer with a passion for cooking, especially when it comes to pasta. Spaghetti to ravioli, I love it all. I'm also fascinated by the rich tastes of Peruvian cuisine. Follow along as I combine tech and cooking, creating easy-to-follow digital recipes that highlight the pleasure of delicious food.

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