A classic cocktail with a serious twist, this California Cosmopolitan is an easy cocktail option with a bright citrus flavor and a twinkling look.

Serve this at your summer party as a refreshing, sweet, and zesty cocktail option or even as a holiday party to bring some brightness to the cold winter months.

California Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

If you’re looking for ideas on how to set up a party for the warmer months, how about hosting an outdoor luau or a Mexican fiesta.

If you’re looking for ideas for how to set up a party for the colder months, here are some elegant Christmas party themes.

Why You’re Going To Love This Cocktail

Ingredients and Supplies

How To Make This Cocktail

Here’s how to whip up this super simple recipe:

Step 1: Prepare the glasses

Dampen the rim of your martini glass with a wet paper towel. Dip the rim in sanding sugar to give them some sparkle and a touch of sweetness.

I used yellow to complement the color of the cocktail.

Sugar rim on California Cosmopolitan Cocktail | CatchMyParty.com

Step 2: Make the cocktail

Combine vodka, triple sec, orange juice, and lemon juice in a pitcher. You can chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

orange-california-cosmopolitan-recipe-26

And for my final garnish, I cut a round slice of orange, removed the juicy orange part, then thinned out the peel with a paring knife. I held it in a tight twist for a few seconds, and let go. It made the prettiest garnish!

Orange California Cosmopolitan Cocktail | CatchMyParty.com

What I love about this drink is the sweetness from the Triple Sec and the acidic punch from the orange and lemon juices. It’s a nicely balanced cocktail with fun boldness.

Citrus California Cosmo | CatchMyParty.com

Tips and Substitutions

FAQs

What drink is California known for?

Being grape country – California is best known for its American wines.

What liquor serves as the base for the classic Cosmopolitan?

Vodka is the key alcohol in a classic Cosmo.

Is a Cosmopolitan sour?

It’s a well-balanced drink in fact – sweet and sour taste with a touch of bitterness.

What food goes well with this cocktail?

We recommend parmesan crisps and veggies with our and delicious lemon chive goat cheese dip, or these delicious herb gruyère gougères.

Other Cocktails You Might Like

Let me know if you use this recipe at your cocktail party. I’d love to hear what you think.

California Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Here’s our fun holiday to serve during the holidays. Most people think of eggnog or peppermint as their Christmas flavors of choice, but when I think winter… I think citrus!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Course: cocktail
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 250kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Pinnacle vodka
  • ½ cup triple sec
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup sanding sugar for the rim of the glass

Instructions

  • Dampen the rim of your martini glass with a wet paper towel. Dip the rim in sanding sugar to give the glasses some sparkle and the drink a touch of sweetness. I used yellow to complement the color of the cocktail.
  • Combine vodka, triple sec, orange juice, and lemon juice in a pitcher. You can chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Notes

To garnish,  I cut a round slice of orange, removed the juicy orange part, then thinned out the peel with a paring knife. I held it in a tight twist for a few seconds, and let go.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Orange California Cosmopolitan | CatchMyParty.com