Cosmo Nouveau

The Cosmopolitan is really just a vodka margarita with a splash of cranberry, notes Lynnette Marrero, head of education for the mixology conference Bar Convent and creator of all-female bartending competition Speed Rack. She uses that understanding of the DNA of the drink to create a light and refreshing citrus-forward Cosmopolitan that gets its sweetness from orange liqueur and pleasant tartness and color from a blend of lime and pomegranate juices. To further elevate the drink, she looks for special ingredients, using a citrus vodka infused with real fruit, and pomegranate juice (which she trades for the cranberry) to add complexity and body to the drink. "It has a nice tanginess that works well with the liqueur and lime," she says. Marrero garnishes her recipe with a twist of lemon peel, but you could use lime or another citrus peel for a different effect.