Spice up your cocktail game with this Spicy Raspberry Habanero Cosmo! This classic-Cosmopolitan-with-a-twist blends habanero heat with raspberry sweetness for a sassy, refreshing mixed drink.
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What's the Story on this Cosmo Recipe
We were inspired to create this cocktail after a visit to one of our favorite happy hour spots, DeCarli's in Beaverton, Oregon. We ordered a drink called a Caldolce Cocktail, which turned out to be a sweet and spicy fusion of habaneros and raspberries. (The name "Dolce caldo," translating to "warm sweet" in Italian, perfectly captures the essence of this delightful drink.)
Curious about its ingredients, I asked Tamara, our server about it, and she shared with us the key components: habanero simple syrup, raspberry puree, and vodka. Back home in the "lab," we decided to put our own spin on it, refining the recipe by straining out the raspberry mash and adding a little something bubbly for a more elegant presentation.
Our version – the Spicy Raspberry Habanero Cosmopolitan – offers a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and acidity. The habanero peppers bring a bold, spicy kick that complements the tartness of the raspberries, while the classic cosmopolitan base provides a smooth foundation.
Serve this unique and fiery cosmopolitan at your next gathering to surprise and impress your guests with a cocktail that combines sophistication with a playful and spicy edge.
Ingredients
- Habanero Simple Syrup (Sugar, water, and habanero pepper): This spicy simple syrup can be made well ahead of time.
- Raspberries: Use fresh or frozen berries.
- Vodka: Use any plain, good quality vodka.
- Mixer: The Sparkle in a sparkling cosmo usually comes with the addition of champagne, but sparkling water or club soda also make excellent mixers for this recipe. (Our favorite choice is ginger-lime sparkling water.)
Warning! Do not use more than one habanero to make the syrup. Here's why!
We made the mistake of using two habaneros to make the syrup the first time. This created two problems. Firstly, the cocktails we made with it were just too dang spicy! Secondly, and of greater significance, the capsaicin in habanero oil became aerosolized within the mixer's effervescent bubbles. Consequently, as we sipped our drinks, we inadvertently inhaled these aerosolized particles, which caused minor coughing and eye irritation.
We had no such issues with syrup made with only one deseeded habanero.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make a Spicy Raspberry Cosmo
Raspberry Puree
Place the raspberries in a small jar or tall glass, and add one tablespoon sugar. Smashed the berries with a muddle until they are pulverize. Set aside.
Habanero Simple Syrup
The habanero simple syrup can be made well ahead of time and refrigerated until you need it.
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil over medium heat. Slowly stir sugar into boiling water until sugar is dissolved.
Add one quartered, deseeded habanero pepper to the sugar mixture, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the syrup has noticeably thickened; about 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for at least 30 minutes. You should have about 1¼ cups of syrup.
Remove pepper pieces from syrup. Refrigerate syrup in a glass jar until ready to use.
Cocktail Mix
For each cocktail, you will need:
- 1 tablespoon (½ ounce) raspberry puree
- 3 tablespoons (1½ ounces) habanero simple syrup
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3-4 ounces Mixer (champagne, sparkling water, or club soda)
Pour raspberry puree, habanero simple syrup, and vodka into a shaker or tall glass, and shake or stir vigorously.
Strain mixture into martini glasses, and add chosen mixer to each one.
Serve immediately.
Top Tip
This spicy raspberry cosmo is an excellent choice for serving at a cocktail party! All of the components can be prepped well ahead of time, and the base (syrup, berries, vodka) can be made in premixed batches to easily serve larger quantities.
Prepare the habanero syrup and berry mash in advance and store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can even mix the vodka, berries, and syrup together ahead of time. This allows for quick and efficient serving during the party: all you need to do is pour the base and add the mixer last minute.
What to Serve with a Cosmopolitan
Cosmos are an excellent choice for a cocktail party, as they pair well with all sorts of appetizers and citrus-forward foods. Here are just a few suggestions:
More Cocktail Recipes
- Classic Whiskey Ginger with Lime
- Spiced Cranberry Mule
- Emerald Sunrise (St Patrick's Day Cocktail)
- Blushin' Russian (Cranberry Cocktail & Mocktail)
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Raspberry Habanero Cosmopolitan
Equipment
- 1 muddler or small blender
- 1 small jar or tall glass
- 2 martini glasses
Ingredients
Raspberry Puree
- 4 ounces raspberries fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Habanero Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 whole habanero pepper quartered and seeded
For each cocktail you will also need:
- 2 ounces vodka Smirnoff
- 3-4 ounces ginger-lime sparkling water (preferred) or champagne, or club soda (see Notes)
Instructions
Raspberry Puree
- Place the raspberries in a small jar or tall glass, and smashed them with a muddle until they are pulverize.
Habanero Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil over medium heat. Slowly stir sugar into boiling water until sugar is dissolved. Add one quartered, deseeded habanero pepper to the sugar mixture, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the syrup has noticeably thickened; about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for at least 30 minutes. You should have about 1¼ cups of syrup.Remove peppers from syrup. Refrigerate syrup in a glass jar until ready to use.
Cocktail Mix
- For each cocktail, you will need ½ ounce raspberry puree, 1½ ounces habanero simple syrup, 2 ounces vodka, and 3-4 ounces Mixer (champagne, sparkling water, or club soda).Pour raspberry puree, habanero simple syrup, and vodka into a shaker or tall glass, and shake or stir vigorously. Strain mixture into martini glasses, and add 3-4 ounces of ginger-lime sparkling water (or champagne, or club soda) to each one. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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