A smooth, sippable Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail is a twist on the now classic cocktail and a delicious signature cocktail for the holidays. Their vibrant red color paired with a green lime twist will dazzle your guests, making you the host or hostess with the mostess! Made famous by Sex in the City in the late 1990s, the Cosmo has stood the test of time. 

This Cosmopolitan Recipe has the classic ingredients of vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice, plus the addition of pomegranate juice. Perfect for a girls’ night out or any holiday entertaining!

Two Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktails in high ball glasses.

Why You Must Make

  • When entertaining, it’s nice to have a signature cocktail that varies with the season or event.
  • When pomegranates start appearing in the market, a holiday cocktail with pomegranate juice seems apropos.
  • With cocktail recipes, the proportion of ingredients is key to its success. The perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter is vital. So I took Ina Garten’s cosmopolitan recipe and gave it a wee twist. Ina doesn’t disappoint.

Ingredient Notes

  • Vodka or Citron Vodka – Good quality vodka is required
  • Orange liqueur – Cointreau standard but Grand Marnier is my preference
  • Cranberry Juice Cocktail – I use Ocean Spray, pure cranberry juice is too tart
  • Pomegranate Juice – I use Pom Wonderful
  • Fresh lime juice, plus lime slices or twists – To add a touch of acidity for balance and to garnish
Two Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktails in martini glasses with lime twists.

A Christmas or New Year’s Cocktail

Although not the traditional girly pink Cosmo, I love the rich hue from the addition of pomegranate juice. If the pomegranates were not so sad in the markets, I would have added some ruby red pomegranate arils to this cosmopolitan recipe, too. Besides the usual cranberry juice, a deep red pomegranate juice added a magical holiday look to this cocktail, making it perfect for sipping on Christmas night or New Year’s Eve! Plus the green twist of lime rind completes the classic green and red color combo for the holidays!

A Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail in martini glass with a lime twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Made The First Cosmopolitan?

There were cocktails similar to the Cosmo, like the Daisy, but the official invention of the Cosmopolitan Cocktail was in 1987. First mixed by bartender Toby Cecchini at the Odeon in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, it was the TV show Sex in the City that made the cosmopolitan famous.

What is in a Cosmopolitan Recipe?

The classic Cosmopolitan is made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice. Many recipes call for Citron vodka, to double up on the citrus undertones. My version has the addition of pomegranate juice for an autumnal flair.

What is Cointreau?

Cointreau is one of many popular orange liqueurs including Grand Marnier and Triple Sec. It was used in the original Cosmo recipe.

How Do You Serve a Cosmopolitan Cocktail?

Though a cosmo is not a martini (the latter officially made of gin or vodka, vermouth, and an olive or lemon twist), it’s still served in a martini glass. A cosmopolitan should be ice cold, so often it’s served with crushed ice. Other purists disagree and demand a true cosmo be without ice!

How Do You Make a Lime Twist?

I’ve tried many methods but found it was easiest to make lime twists by hand instead of using a tool. First, peel the lime like you would an orange. Cut the peel into a few large pieces, aiming to have the ability to slice some long strips. Slice the sections into narrow strips, then carefully remove some of the pith or white lining of the peel. This will make the strips easier to curl. Next, roll up the strips into tight coils. When released, the coils will make nice lime twists.

So if you’re entertaining this fall and winter, this pomegranate cosmopolitan cocktail is a must for your party! They are potent, so serve responsively along with plenty of delicious appetizers and snack recipes!

 Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail in a martini glass.

You May Also Like

So if you’re entertaining this fall and winter, this pomegranate cosmopolitan cocktail is a must for your party! They are potent, so serve responsively along with plenty of delicious appetizers and snack recipes!

Plus, Some Bar Snacks

Stay in touch through social media @ InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail in a martini glass

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield 4 cocktails

A twist on the classic Cosmos with the addition of pomegranate juice.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup good quality vodka
  • ½ cup orange liqueur, I used Grand Marnier, but Cointreau is the standard
  • ½ cup cranberry juice cocktail
  • ¼ cup pomegranate juice, I used Pom Wonderful
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice
  • Sliced limes or lime twists to garnish

Instructions

  1. In a pitcher, mix together all ingredients except garnishes.
  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the cocktail mixture, and shake until the cocktail is well chilled, about 30 seconds.
  2. Pour into glasses and garnish with a lime slice or twist.

Notes

Helpful tools (affiliate links):

Martini Glasses

OXO Beakers

Cocktail Shaker

Very slightly adapted from Ina Garten.

Fresh lime juice makes a tastier cocktail than bottled.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 glass

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 292Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 0g

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