VIRGIN COSMOPOLITAN RECIPE

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Virgin Cosmopolitan is a non-alcoholic version of the classic vodka cocktail, the Cosmopolitan. 

One of the most popular mocktails around, the Virgin Cosmopolitan mirrors the original, minus the alcohol, even down to its eye-catching pink hue. If you love citrus, then this is your drink.

Delicious? Definitely. Refreshing? Absolutely!

What You’ll Need

• Boston Shaker
• Citrus Shaker (or Citrus Press)
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument
• Strainer
• Paring Knife
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Cocktail Glass
• Peeler

Got a question about any of the bartending tools above? Check out this article where we outline the most essential tools you need for your home bar.

How to Mix

1. Add Ice Cubes into a Boston Shaker.
2. Get a Paring Knife and cut one Lime in half.
3. Use a Citrus Press to squeeze one Lime half to extract the juice, then measure and pour the Lime Juice into the Shaker.
4. Use a Paring Knife to cut one Orange in half.
5. Use a Citrus Press to squeeze one Orange half to extract the juice, then measure and pour the Orange Juice into the Shaker.
6. Measure and pour Cranberry Juice into the Shaker.
7. Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker.
8. Add two dashes of Orange Bitters to the Shaker.
9. Shake vigorously until the Shaker is frosty on the outside.
10. Strain the mixture by placing a Hawthorne Strainer on top of the large tin of your Boston Shaker and pour directly into a Cocktail Glass.
11. Use a Peeler to peel a strip of Orange Zest, then press the strip over your drink to express the oils before placing it into your Glass.
12. Sip and enjoy!

What is a Virgin Cosmopolitan?

The Virgin Cosmopolitan is an alcohol-free version of a Cosmopolitan cocktail or in other words, a cosmo mocktail. It’s made with sweetened cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup, and orange bitters. 

What Does a Virgin Cosmopolitan Taste Like?

Similar to the original alcoholic Cosmopolitan, the Virgin Cosmopolitan is a citrus delight. It’s distinctly tart yet slightly sweet. Similar to a real Cosmopolitan, the cranberry juice takes center stage but is balanced nicely by orange juice and simple syrup.

The History of the Virgin Cosmopolitan

Like many classic cocktails, the exact origin of the Cosmopolitan is unclear (naturally, the same is true of the Virgin Cosmopolitan).  

Some say the vodka-based Cosmopolitan can be traced back to Provincetown, Massachusetts in the 1970s, while others say South Beach, Florida during the mid-1980s. 

The Cosmo is also thought to be a variant of the Cape Codder cocktail, which combines vodka and cranberry juice – with the Cosmo adding Triple Sec and lime juice. It rose to prominence in the 1990s, becoming synonymous with cosmopolitan urban culture and modern cocktail sophistication. 

When it comes to mocktails, the Shirley Temple is believed to be the first widely popular one, created back in the 1930s. Interestingly, the term “mocktail” dates back even further – it was first used in 1916, though it didn’t gain widespread popularity until g the 1980s and 1990s. So, it’s likely that the Virgin Cosmopolitan mocktail first emerged during the late 1980s. 

Tips for Making the Perfect Virgin Cosmopolitan

Trying your hand at a non-alcoholic Cosmopolitan for the first time? Make sure to check our top tips before you reach for the ingredients. 

Use Fresh Lime Juice

Fresh citrus juice adds that extra zing and zest that’ll make your Cosmopolitan mocktail world class. That’s why we highly recommend pressing your own lime juice and orange juice instead of buying the bottled stuff. That’s right – juice your own juice. Trust us, the difference is like night and day. The sweetness of your oranges will vary with the season, but using freshly pressed orange juice will give your Virgin Cosmopolitan a delightful smoothness and sweetness.  

Learn how to extract more juice from your fruits. 

Use Cranberry Juice Mix

Despite what we just said about using fresh ingredients, cranberry juice is a special case – there’s always an exception to the rules! 

When a recipe calls for cranberry juice, it typically means cranberry juice mix, which is pre-mixed and store-bought – not fresh cranberries you need to juice and sweeten. 

Cranberry juice mix blends cranberry juice with added sugars and other fruit juices, making it less tart and more versatile for cocktails. 

 As Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan – Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador – puts it, “many bartenders say they started bartending 5 BC or 10 BC – ‘before cranberry’ juice was released. Once it hit the market, everyone started using it.” Trust Rico on this one. 

However, for our Cosmopolitan mocktail recipe, if you want more tartness and sharpness, you can use unsweetened cranberry juice. 

Variations of a Cosmopolitan Mocktail

If you like the Virgin Cosmo and want to explore similar alcohol-free cocktails, check out this variation. 

Gentle Sea Breeze

The Sea Breeze, like the Cosmopolitan, belongs to the so-called “Cape Cod” family. This alcohol-free version combines equal parts of cranberry juice and grapefruit juice over ice for a delicious drink experience. It delivers a sweet and tangy flavor profile, with the tartness of the cranberry juice complemented by the citrusy notes of the grapefruit juice. 

Here’s how to make a Gentle Sea Breeze. 

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Virgin Cosmopolitan

Now that you’ve successfully prepared your Cosmo mocktail, there are a few final touches to get right: 

• We recommend chilling your cocktail glass in advance – anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours. This will help to keep the drink cooler for longer. 
• To garnish your Virgin Cosmopolitan mocktail, peel one orange zest strip and hold it over the glass. Then give it a quick twist to express the oils before dropping it into the drink. Those incredible orange aromas will elevate your drink even further.
• Consider other fruit peels, like orange, lime or even grapefruit. 
• Instead of citrus zest, try a fruit wheel from a slice of lemon or lime. 
• To compliment the cranberry juice, and add a touch of elegance, slide a few fresh cranberries onto a cocktail stick and place into the glass.