White Cosmo Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 07/26/24
White Cosmo cocktail (two glasses) with sugared cranberry garnish

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Visually stunning with a delicately sweet fruit taste, the white cosmo is a beautiful cocktail. It replicates the flavor of the famous cosmopolitan, but opts for white cranberry juice rather than the standard red. The switch removes the pink color and lightens up the fruity sweetness.

How Strong Is a White Cosmo?

The white cosmo is just a little more gentle than the original recipe. When made with a 70-proof vodka and St. Germain, it shakes up to about 17 percent ABV (34 proof). That's still stronger than a glass of wine, so don't let the beauty of this drink lure you into enjoying one too many.

The white cosmo is an excellent vodka martini for any occasion, including spring and summer affairs and romantic dinners. An elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germain, gives it a sweet and floral touch and replaces the cosmo's customary Cointreau. It's a perfect complement to the lighter cranberry, as well as the lemon juice.

For a pop of color, a few sugar-dusted cranberries serve as the garnish. They make a fantastic sweet-tart nibble to enjoy when the drink's gone.

Tip for Making White Cosmo Cocktail Recipe

Take advantage of the cranberry season (autumn into early winter) and stock up on the fresh fruits for garnishing. Flash-freeze them in a single layer, then transfer them to a freezer bag. They'll keep until the next cranberry season and you can pull a few out for a garnish at any time. Frozen cranberries are less prone to breaking open when skewered. They also thaw within 10 minutes.

What You'll Need to Make This White Cosmo Cocktail Recipe
Cocktail-kingdom-leopold-jigger
A Great Cocktail Jigger
Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer, 10.25 long, Yellow
A Handy Dandy Citrus Juicer
Various Styles of Cocktail Shaker Strainers
A Sleek Cocktail Shaker
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 3 cranberries, for garnish

  • 1/2 tablespoon white granulated sugar, for garnish

  • 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka

  • 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur

  • 1 ounce white cranberry juice

  • 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a white cosmo cocktail gathered
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  2. Skewer 3 cranberries and dust them with 1/2 tablespoon white granulated sugar. Gently tap off any excess sugar and set aside.

    Sugared cranberries on a toothpick over two bowls of sugar and a measuring spoon
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  3. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka, 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur, 1 ounce white cranberry, and 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake well.

    White cosmo cocktail ingredients in a glass
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the cranberry skewer. Serve and enjoy.

    White Cosmo cocktail with sugar-dusted cranberry garnish
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Make it to your taste - As with the pink cosmopolitan, adjust any of the ingredients to your taste. A touch more liqueur or cranberry makes it sweeter, while an extra squeeze of lemon gives it a tart kick.
  • No elderflower, no problem - Skip the elderflower and switch back to an orange liqueur like Cointreau, another triple sec, or premium orange curaçao. Avoid brandy-based and colored orange liqueurs or you'll take the "white" out of the cosmo (although it will taste the same and will do in a pinch).
  • Try it with another vodka - Use an unflavored vodka or another flavor if you like. Berry vodkas are a perfect match for this drink.