Lime is the citrus fruit traditionally used in a classic Cosmopolitan cocktail.
A standard Cosmopolitan combines vodka—often citrus-flavoured—with orange liqueur such as Cointreau, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice. The lime supplies the drink’s sharp acidity, balancing the sweetness of the cranberry juice and liqueur. It is commonly shaken with ice and strained into a cocktail glass.
The drink is often garnished with a lime slice, wedge, or sometimes a lemon twist. That garnish can cause confusion, but the traditional citrus ingredient in the mixture is lime. Some modern recipes substitute lemon or orange, yet those are variations rather than the classic answer.
The Cosmopolitan’s exact origin is disputed. Creation claims include Minneapolis in 1975, South Beach in the mid-1980s, and New York City in 1989. It became internationally famous in the 1990s, helped by Madonna and later by the television series Sex and the City.