Virgin Cosmopolitan
Average
Sweet & Sour
5 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Virgin Cosmopolitan mocktail is an alcohol-free version of the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail. Also known as the “Cosmo,” the original Vodka cocktail has been a favorite since the 1990s and symbolizes modern cocktail culture.
This Virgin Cosmopolitan mocktail recipe mirrors the original Cosmo, minus the alcohol. This Cosmopolitan mocktail is sweet yet tart, offering a well-balanced drink. The Orange Zest Twist garnish ties it all together, perfectly marrying the tartness of cranberry and lime juice.
Delicious? Definitely. Iconic? Absolutely!
How To Make a Virgin Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Twist Knife
Boston Shaker
How to Mix
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Add Ice Cubes into a Boston Shaker.
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Get a Paring Knife and cut one Lime in half.
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Use a Citrus Press to squeeze one Lime half to extract the juice, then measure and pour the Lime Juice into the Shaker.
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Use a Paring Knife to cut one Orange in half.
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Use a Citrus Press to squeeze one Orange half to extract the juice, then measure and pour the Orange Juice into the Shaker.
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Measure and pour Cranberry Juice into the Shaker.
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Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker.
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Add two dashes of Orange Bitters to the Shaker.
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Shake vigorously until the Shaker is frosty on the outside.
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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.
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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.
Watch How to Mix a Classic Virgin Cosmopolitan
What is a Virgin Cosmopolitan?
The Virgin Cosmopolitan or “Cosmo” mocktail is a non-alcoholic twist on a Cosmopolitan cocktail – that is cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup and a dash of orange bitters, minus any vodka.
It’s a tasty, tantalizing and timeless accompaniment to many occasions – especially if you or your guests are looking for alcohol-free options. However, once you’ve tried a Virgin Cosmopolitan, you might decide to serve them regardless – they’re just that good.
What Does a Virgin Cosmopolitan Taste Like?
When you try a Virgin Cosmo mocktail, you’re going to taste a sweet, tart drink – just like a Cosmo, but without the taste of vodka and triple sec. Think fresh, fruity, sweet and sour: a balanced blend sure to find its place on any cocktail list.
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 a 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.
Got a question about any of the bartending tools? Check out our article where we outline the most essential tools you need for your home bar.
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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.
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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.
Virgin Cosmopolitan FAQ
To make a Virgin (no alcohol) Cosmopolitan, just leave out the vodka and triple sec. This means mixing cranberry juice, lime juice, simple syrup and bitters with ice and then straining into a martini glass.
Like a Virgin Cosmo, the Shirley Temple is a mocktail – but made up of ginger ale, lime juice and grenadine. Some recipes swap the ginger ale for straight soda water. A VirginCosmopolitan is a fruitier drink featuring orange and cranberry juice.
