Why it works: Cranberry and orange match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 230 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Cosmopolitan I
Ingredients
Directions
Shake and strain into a chilled Martini glass.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 4 of 5 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | 1 medium (131g) | 62 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Cranberry | 1 cup raw (100g) | 46 |
| Lime | juice of 1 lime (44ml) | 11 |
| Vodka | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Cranberry + orangetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together230 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Lime + orangetop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together937 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
-
Cranberry + limetop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together100 recipes
Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).
-
Vodka + limetop 12% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together225 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Vodka + sugartop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together327 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Stolichnaya red vodka
- Provides the base spirit and alcoholic strength of the drink.
- De kuyper triple sec
- Adds orange-flavoured sweetness and aroma that balances the sharpness of the citrus.
- Cranberry juice
- Supplies the pink colour, tart fruit flavour and extra liquid volume.
- Lime juice
- Adds acidity that brightens the drink and balances the sweetness.
- Caster sugar
- Sweetens the drink and softens the tartness of the cranberry and lime.
Swap the lime
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (vodka, cranberry, sugar, orange):
- Lemonfits about as well
- Limethe original
- Vanillafits about as well
- Pineapplefits less well
Fit is the average pairing score against vodka, cranberry, sugar, orange. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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