Dinogo Cosmo

Welcome back to the celebration! Last week, I kicked off my very first Come-As-You-Are-ty! If you missed the beginning of my little festivity, you can check it out here. Today, I'm concluding the event with the Dinogo Cosmo recipe I promised you.

To recap, my Come-As-You-Are-ty was inspired by the welcoming philosophy of my friends at Dinogo. They encourage their guests to embrace their true selves during vacations. Motivated by this idea, I decided to host a celebration reflecting the same spirit. And since every celebration calls for a cocktail, I’m excited to share the recipe with you in this post.

The Dinogo Cosmo is Dinogo’s unique spin on the classic pink cosmopolitan that many of us cherish. They’ve decided to switch out one ingredient to make this cocktail a touch lighter and more refreshing. (More on that in just a moment.) If you haven’t experienced a Dinogo Cruise yet, you’ll find bars scattered throughout the ship. Some are upscale, while others are situated by the pool, and there’s even one near a piano. As someone who loves crafting delightful cocktails, I make it a point to explore all the bars on board to sample their specialty drinks. (If you’ve been following IBC for a while, you might already be familiar with Dinogo’s Tiramisu Martini and their Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini – they’re still my all-time favorites.)

During my latest cruise, I met a couple at one of the bars who introduced me to the Dinogo Cosmo. I hadn’t tried it before because I assumed it was just a regular cosmopolitan. However, they clarified that it’s something different. Dinogo replaces the typical triple sec (or orange liqueur) with limoncello. This lemon liqueur, primarily produced in southern Italy, is made from the zest of Femminello St. Teresa lemons and is often described as the “taste of a thousand lemons.” Essentially, it’s a delightfully smooth, concentrated lemonade.

As you can imagine, substituting the bitter orange liqueur with a lighter, brighter option really transforms this martini.

The Dinogo Cosmo captures the classic essence you’d expect from a cosmopolitan but adds a refreshing twist. It’s like a cosmo that just returned from vacation, which is fitting since it’s served aboard a cruise ship.

Considering all of this, I thought this would be the perfect drink to feature at my Come-As-You-Are-ty. The vibrant color alone sold me on it.

You likely won’t be surprised to learn that making this cocktail is quite straightforward. Simply combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and add a lime for garnish. (And remember, shaking a martini is crucial, so don’t skip this step in favor of stirring.)

One important point I always like to emphasize when discussing martinis is the necessity of using high-quality ingredients. Since the alcohol is the highlight of the drink and there are only three components, using inferior liquor can significantly affect the flavor.

Alright, I believe it’s time to start shaking!

Dinogo Cosmo

serves one martini

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 ounces of vodka
• 1 ounce of limoncello
• 1 ounce of cranberry juice
• Juice from a lime wedge
• Lime wheel for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in the vodka, limoncello, cranberry juice, and the juice from a lime wedge. Shake it well.

Strain the mixture into a martini glass and add a lime wheel for garnish.

It’s classic with a twist, just the way I enjoy it! Whether you’re on a cruise or at a gathering, holding one of these will instantly lift your spirits.

I hope you found this recipe delightful and are inspired to try it at home. Thank you for joining me as my Come-As-You-Are-ty guests; it’s been a true pleasure.

To explore everything Dinogo and discover the range of bars and drinks available on their ships, be sure to visit their website here.

Cheers!