Virgin Cosmopolitan

Name: Virgin Cosmopolitan
Prep time: 8 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup (120 ml) cranberry juice cocktail, well chilled; 3 tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lime juice, freshly squeezed from about 2 limes, strained of seeds; ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice, freshly squeezed from the same orange used for the garnish, pulp strained out, chilled; 1 tablespoon (15 ml) simple syrup, equal parts sugar and water, cooled (optional); 2 cups (280 g) ice cubes, fresh, standard-size cubes; 1 strip (5 g) orange peel, one strip about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, cut with a peeler from the orange before juicing, avoiding the white pith

From the MyKitchenBank Kitchen

A crisp, ruby-pink mocktail with tart cranberry, fresh lime, and a splash of orange juice for gentle sweetness. Shaken hard with ice and served up with a fresh orange twist, it has all the elegance of the classic without the alcohol.

Prep: 8 min
Cook: —
Wait: 10 min
Total: 18 min
Makes: 2 cocktail glasses (about 5 oz / 150 ml each)

Jump to recipe ♡ Save

Ingredients

2 servings

½ cup (120 ml) cranberry juice cocktail, well chilled
3 tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lime juice, freshly squeezed from about 2 limes, strained of seeds
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh orange juice, freshly squeezed from the same orange used for the garnish, pulp strained out, chilled
1 tablespoon (15 ml) simple syrup, equal parts sugar and water, cooled (optional)
2 cups (280 g) ice cubes, fresh, standard-size cubes
For garnish
1 strip (5 g) orange peel, one strip about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, cut with a peeler from the orange before juicing, avoiding the white pith

Equipment (7)

Cocktail shaker (16–28 oz / 500–800 ml)
Jigger or measuring spoons with ml markings
Hawthorn strainer
Fine-mesh strainer
2 chilled cocktail (martini or coupe) glasses, 5–6 oz (150–180 ml)
Citrus juicer
Vegetable peeler

Steps

Before you start

Put the cocktail glasses in the freezer 10 minutes ahead (or fill them with ice and water) so the drink stays cold.
Use sweetened cranberry juice cocktail for the classic balance; unsweetened pure cranberry juice will be very tart unless you add extra syrup.
Squeeze the lime and orange juice fresh; bottled juice tastes flat and will change the balance.
Have extra ice ready: you need a shaker about two-thirds full of ice for proper chilling and dilution.

1
Chill the glasses
- Place two cocktail glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- If short on time, fill them with ice and cold water and set aside, then dump the water just before serving.
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Glasses are frosty on the outside
Tip: Chilled glassware is the easiest way to make a mocktail feel like a real cocktail.
2
Cut the garnish
- Wash and dry one orange.
- Using a vegetable peeler, cut one strip of peel about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, pressing lightly to take only the colored zest and not the bitter white pith.
- Set aside.
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Strip is bright orange with little or no white on the back
Tip: Cut the peel before juicing; it is much harder to peel a squeezed orange.
3
Juice the citrus
- Roll the limes firmly on the counter, halve, and squeeze to get 3 tablespoons (45 ml) juice.
- Halve the peeled orange and squeeze to get ¼ cup (60 ml) juice.
- Strain both through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds and pulp.
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Juices are smooth with no seeds or pulp
4
Fill shaker with ice
- Fill the cocktail shaker about two-thirds full with ice cubes, roughly 2 cups (280 g).
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Ice reaches well above the liquid line once the juices are added
Tip: More ice chills faster with less dilution than a half-empty shaker.
5
Add the liquids
- Pour in ½ cup (120 ml) cranberry juice, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) lime juice, and ¼ cup (60 ml) orange juice.
- Add the 1 tablespoon (15 ml) simple syrup if you like a sweeter drink; taste the cranberry juice first and skip the syrup if it is very sweet.
+ Show details− Hide details
Tip: Measure carefully; extra lime quickly makes the drink sharp.
6
Shake hard
- Seal the shaker tightly and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Shaker is painfully cold and frosted on the outside; liquid looks slightly lighter and frothy
Tip: Hold the lid and base firmly while shaking so it doesn't pop open.
7
Strain and serve
- Dump any ice water from the glasses.
- Strain the drink through the strainer, dividing it evenly between the two glasses (about 5 oz / 150 ml each).
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: Drink is bright pink and slightly frothy on top
Tip: Double-strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a silkier, ice-chip-free texture.
8
Garnish
- Cut the peel strip in half crosswise.
- Hold one piece skin-side down over each drink and pinch to release the fragrant oils, rub the peel around the rim, then drop it in or perch it on the edge.
- Serve right away.
+ Show details− Hide details
Ready when: A faint mist of orange oil is visible and smells citrusy
Tip: Serve immediately; the froth fades and the drink warms within minutes.

Good to know

Tips

Shake with plenty of ice for a full 15 seconds; this chills and dilutes the drink to the right strength and creates the delicate froth.
Taste before serving and adjust: add a teaspoon of syrup if too tart, or a squeeze of lime if too sweet.
For a more sophisticated flavor, add 2 dashes of non-alcoholic aromatic bitters or a splash of sparkling water on top.
To scale up, multiply the juices and shake no more than 2 servings per batch so each drink chills properly.

Make ahead

Juice the citrus up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate in a covered jar. Combine the cranberry, lime, and orange juice (and syrup) in a pitcher up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate; shake with ice per serving just before serving.

Storage & reheating

Best served immediately. Unshaken mixed juice keeps covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours (flavor is brightest within 4 hours). Shaken drinks should not be stored. Not suitable for freezing as a finished drink, though leftover mix can be frozen in ice cube trays for up to 1 month and used to chill other mocktails.

Substitutions

simple syrup → agave nectar or honey. Use ½ tablespoon (8 ml) as they are sweeter; stir into the juices before adding ice.
cranberry juice cocktail → unsweetened pure cranberry juice plus extra simple syrup. Use ½ cup (120 ml) juice and increase simple syrup to 2 tablespoons (30 ml); adjust to taste.
fresh orange juice → fresh tangerine or blood orange juice. Same amount; blood orange adds deeper color and slightly berry notes.
fresh lime juice → fresh lemon juice. Use 2 tablespoons (30 ml); the flavor will be a bit softer and less floral.