Ingredients
- 6 parts Orange Juice
- 6 Parts Cranberry juice
- 2 parts Triple Sec
- 1 part Blood Orange Juice
- 1 part Lime juice
Instructions
Fill the Shaker:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Add Ingredients:
- Add 6 parts orange juice, 6 parts cranberry juice, 2 parts triple sec, 1 part blood orange juice, and 1 part lime juice to the shaker.
Shake:
- Shake well to combine and chill the ingredients.
Strain:
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy your Blood Orange Cosmopolitan Cocktail.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The original Cosmopolitan, a vodka based sour, burst onto the scene in the 1980s and became a cultural icon in the 90s. Its exact inventor is debated, but it quickly became a staple in bars from Miami to Manhattan. This Blood Orange Cosmopolitan is a modern variation, taking that recognizable profile and injecting it with a distinct citrus twist, likely emerging as bartenders experimented with seasonal ingredients.
This drink is a clear descendant of the sour cocktail family, specifically a riff on the classic Cosmopolitan. Relatives include the Kamikaze, a simpler vodka and lime sour, and even a basic Vodka Cranberry. What sets the Blood Orange Cosmopolitan apart is its reliance solely on triple sec for alcohol and the unique, bittersweet notes of blood orange, which deepen the citrus character beyond typical orange and lime.
You’d find this cocktail at a trendy brunch spot, a well-appointed lounge, or a home bar during the late winter and spring when blood oranges are in season. It’s a great choice for a relaxed gathering where you want something a bit special without being overly complex or heavy. It’s also a solid option for someone looking for a lower alcohol, fruit-forward drink.
What it tastes like
On the first sip, you get a bright, tart wave of cranberry and fresh orange, quickly followed by the deeper, slightly more complex citrus notes of blood orange. The middle palate introduces a balanced sweetness from the triple sec, preventing the drink from becoming too sharp. The finish is clean and zesty, with the lime juice providing a refreshing, dry snap that leaves you ready for another sip.
This Blood Orange Cosmopolitan, as specified in the recipe, is a considerably lighter drink than its vodka-fueled cousin. With only two parts of triple sec in sixteen total parts, assuming a 40 proof (20% ABV) triple sec, the drink comes in around 2.5% ABV. If you use an 80 proof (40% ABV) triple sec like Cointreau, it’s roughly 5% ABV. This puts it in the ballpark of a light beer or a wine spritzer, making it an excellent session drink.
The technique
Building this drink is straightforward: grab your shaker and fill it with ice. Combine all the juices and the triple sec in there. Give it a good, hard shake until the shaker is frosty cold on the outside, which ensures proper chilling and dilution. Then, strain that vibrant liquid into a chilled cocktail glass. A coupe or a martini glass works best for presentation.
The most important technique here is shaking it hard and long enough. Don’t just give it a little jiggle. You need to properly chill and dilute the drink to balance the flavors and achieve that smooth, refreshing texture. A lazy shake results in a lukewarm, overly potent, or unbalanced drink that just doesn’t hit the same way.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Blood Orange Juice
- Use
- Freshly squeezed blood orange juice is king here. Its unique sweet-tart flavor with a hint of raspberry is what makes this drink special. Look for deep red, firm fruit.
- Skip
- Bottled blood orange juice, especially concentrate, often lacks the vibrant freshness and specific flavor profile. Regular orange juice is a different drink.
- Why
- Blood orange is the defining ingredient. Without it, you just have an orange cranberry sour. Its distinct color and flavor are load-bearing for the cocktail’s identity.
Triple Sec
- Use
- A quality triple sec like Cointreau or a reputable house brand. These offer a clean, balanced orange sweetness without being cloying or artificial. Even Grand Marnier can work for a richer flavor.
- Skip
- Cheap, overly sweet orange liqueurs that taste like candy. They’ll throw off the balance and leave a syrupy finish.
- Why
- Triple sec provides the primary alcoholic backbone and a crucial layer of orange sweetness and aroma. Its quality directly impacts the overall balance and finish of the drink.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Classic Cosmo
- The original modern classic
- Add 1.5 to 2 parts vodka to the recipe to bring it closer to the traditional Cosmopolitan, making it a more spirit-forward drink.
Sparkling Blood Orange Cosmo
- Bubbly and bright
- After straining into your chilled glass, top the drink with a splash of dry Prosecco or Cava for an effervescent touch. Garnish with a blood orange slice.
Spicy Blood Orange Cosmo
- A little heat for your sweet
- Muddle a thin slice of jalapeño or a few dashes of a good quality habanero shrub in the shaker before adding the other ingredients for a subtle, warming kick.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Regular fresh orange juice can stand in, but the drink will lose its unique color and specific bittersweet notes. Grapefruit juice offers a similar tartness and color depth.
Cointreau or Grand Marnier are excellent upgrades. If you’re out of orange liqueur, a dash of orange bitters and a touch more simple syrup can approximate the sweetness and orange essence.
Pomegranate juice or cherry juice can provide a similar tart, fruity base and a beautiful red hue.
A jar with a tight-fitting lid works just fine. Just make sure it’s clean and can be sealed securely before you get to shaking.
A chilled coupe, a small wine glass, or even a rocks glass with fresh ice will do the trick. Presentation is nice, but taste is paramount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Blood Orange Cosmopolitan Cocktail?
A Blood Orange Cosmopolitan Cocktail contains orange juice, cranberry juice, triple sec, blood orange juice, and lime juice.
Is this a strong drink?
As written, with only triple sec providing alcohol, this is a relatively light drink, closer in strength to a strong beer than a typical spirit-forward cocktail.
What kind of triple sec should I use?
Opt for a quality triple sec like Cointreau. A better liqueur makes a noticeable difference in the drink’s overall balance and flavor. Avoid overly sweet, low-quality options.
Can I make it sweeter or tarter?
Absolutely. Adjust the balance to your taste. For sweeter, add a small dash of simple syrup. For tarter, increase the lime juice or reduce the orange juice slightly.
What’s the best garnish for a Blood Orange Cosmopolitan?
A thin wheel or half-wheel of blood orange, or a twist of lime peel, works perfectly. A fresh cranberry or two can also add a nice visual touch.
Is the Blood Orange Cosmopolitan a seasonal drink?
It often is, due to the limited availability of fresh blood oranges. However, you can make it year-round if you can source good quality blood orange juice, though fresh is always best.
Why use blood orange instead of regular orange?
Blood orange adds a more complex, slightly bittersweet, and berry-like citrus note compared to regular orange. It also gives the drink a deeper, more striking color.
Can I make a batch of Blood Orange Cosmopolitan ahead of time?
You can pre-batch the juices and triple sec, but hold off on adding ice until just before serving. Shake individual portions with ice to ensure proper chilling and dilution.
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