Cranberry Cosmos

The Cosmopolitan dressed up for a party: this cranberry cosmo is mixed by the pitcher, so you can pour rounds all night without measuring a single drink twice.

The classic blend of vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime, and Cointreau gets a lively twist from a splash of ginger juice, which adds a warm, peppery edge that cuts through the sweetness. A spoonful of superfine sugar rounds out the tartness.

Batch the mix ahead, then finish each cocktail to order. Shaking a half-cup of the mix hard with ice does two things: it chills the drink ice-cold and gives it that signature frothy, frosty top.

The sugared rim is worth the extra few seconds. Dip the glass in water, then sugar, and every sip starts with a sweet, crystalline crunch against the tart cranberry.

Pro Tips

• Use freshly squeezed lime juice; bottled tastes flat and dulls the whole drink.
• Shake hard until the shaker frosts over, about 15 seconds, for the coldest, brightest cosmo.
• Make the base ahead and refrigerate, then shake each glass to order so every round is freshly chilled.
• Superfine sugar dissolves cleanly into the cold mix without leaving grit.

Variations

• Swap the Cointreau for triple sec or Grand Marnier.
• Use white cranberry juice for a paler, slightly less tart drink.
• Leave out the vodka and top the mix with soda water for a non-alcoholic cranberry cooler.