The Cranberry Cosmo takes the familiar flavors of a Cosmopolitan and strips away the fuss. Tart cranberry juice, fresh lime, and a clean vodka alternative combine into a drink that looks as good as it tastes. The deep pink color catches the light in a coupe glass in a way that makes people reach for it before you’ve finished describing what’s in it.

Getting the cranberry juice right

The juice makes or breaks this drink. Cranberry juice cocktail, the sweetened kind you find in most grocery aisles, will make the drink taste like candy. What you want is 100% cranberry juice, sometimes labeled as “pure” or “unsweetened.” It’s tart, almost sharp on its own, which is exactly what gives the Cosmo its backbone. The simple syrup balances the tartness without burying it.

If you can find fresh cranberries, float three or four in the glass. They sink just below the surface and look striking against the pink.

The vodka question

In a drink with strong flavors like cranberry and lime, the vodka alternative doesn’t need to do heavy lifting. It just needs to add body and a slight bite. CleanCo Clean V is a good fit here because it stays neutral and lets the fruit do the talking. If you have a different non-alcoholic vodka on hand, like the one used in the Sea Breeze or Bloody Mary, it will work just as well.

Year-round appeal

This drink peaks in fall and winter, when cranberry season overlaps with the holidays. A batch of these is a great option for Thanksgiving or a Christmas party. But tart cranberry and lime are refreshing enough for warmer months too. Serve it any time you want something that feels a little more dressed up than the usual mocktail.