‘Tis the season for a classic cocktail with a twist! The cocktail has many names: “Rosemary Cosmopolitan”, “Christmas Cosmopolitan”, and “Santa Clause-mopolitan” but I like to call it a Winter Cosmopolitan because it can be enjoyed after the holidays. My easy recipe adds flavors of cranberry, apple and rosemary. The sugared cranberries and the rosemary garnish give this drink a festive wintery look and taste!

Winter Cosmopolitan Recipe
2 oz Vodka (I use Titos)
1 oz cranberry apple juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz rosemary simple syrup (see below)
rosemary springs to garnish
sugared cranberries to garish

Rosemary simple syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 water sugar
1-2 springs rosemary

Step 1
Prepare the rosemary simple syrup by bringing sugar, water and rosemary spring to a simmer in a sauce pan. Once simmering, turn off and let cool to room temperature and steep (approx. 45 minutes to an hour). Remove rosemary springs and store rosemary syrup in glass jar or squeeze bottle in the fridge until use.

Step 2
Prepare sugared cranberries by adding 3 cranberries to a toothpick. Dip into rosemary simple syrup and place skewers on parchment lined baking sheet to get sticky (approx. 45 minutes to an hour). Roll sticky cranberry skewers in sugar and store in the fridge until use.

Step 3
Prepare the cosmo by first chilling a stemmed martini or wide brimmed glass with ice water. Add to a shaker ice, vodka, cranberry apple juice, lime juice, rosemary simple syrup. Shake vigorously for a slow count of ten. Pour out ice water from stemmed glass. Strain winter cosmo into chilled glass and top with 1 rosemary spring and a sugared cranberry skewer. Enjoy!