Christmas Cosmopolitan
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 17.1% ABV ∙
The Christmas Cosmopolitan is a shaken cognac cocktail with triple sec, falernum, cranberry, and lime — a spiced, holiday take on the classic Cosmopolitan. Tart cranberry and lime lead, cognac warms underneath, and falernum's clove-ginger spice lingers into a rosemary-scented finish — a fitting cold-weather sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Cognac 30 mlTriple sec 20 mlFalernum liqueur 10 mlCranberry juice 30 mlLime juice 15 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig spiked with a dried cranberry
Tips
- Measure the falernum precisely — at 10 ml it is the smallest pour here, and a heavy hand buries the cranberry and lime under clove.
- Double-strain through a fine mesh into the chilled coupe to catch ice shards, since the low-proof mix needs a clean, silky texture.
- Balance the cognac and triple sec against the falernum's spice before adding lime juice last, tasting to keep the citrus from overpowering the cranberry.
- Express the rosemary sprig by clapping it between palms just before garnishing to release aromatic oils that lift the nose of the drink.
History
The Christmas Cosmopolitan is a seasonal variation on the Cosmopolitan, whose own origin is disputed among several claimants, with the internationally recognized recipe generally credited to bartender Toby Cecchini at The Odeon restaurant in Manhattan in 1988. The Christmas Cosmopolitan keeps this template but adds falernum liqueur, whose blend of spices lends the drink a festive, wintry note not present in the original.
FAQ
What is in a Christmas Cosmopolitan?
Cognac, triple sec, falernum liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice, shaken and served up in a coupe glass. The falernum brings a clove-and-ginger warmth that turns the classic Cosmopolitan into a spiced holiday version, finished with a rosemary sprig and dried cranberries.
What four ingredients are in a Cosmopolitan?
A classic Cosmopolitan is made of vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice, shaken and strained into a cocktail glass. This Christmas Cosmopolitan swaps the vodka for cognac and adds a small amount of falernum liqueur for a spiced, wintery variation.
Is a Christmas Cosmopolitan shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The cranberry and lime juice need the aeration and quick chill of a hard shake; stirring would leave the drink flat and under-diluted.
What glass is a Christmas Cosmopolitan served in?
A coupe glass, garnished with a rosemary sprig and dried cranberries.
What is a winter Cosmopolitan?
A winter Cosmopolitan is a seasonal variation on the classic Cosmopolitan that swaps in warming, spiced ingredients for a cold-weather feel. This Christmas Cosmopolitan is one such version, built on cognac rather than vodka and sweetened with falernum liqueur, which adds clove and ginger notes alongside the cranberry and lime.
Is a Cosmopolitan a vegan drink?
Yes, this Christmas Cosmopolitan is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since it is built entirely from spirits, liqueurs, and fruit juice with no dairy or animal-derived ingredients.
