Vodka is the most used liquid in the bar. The taste of vodka mixes well with any flavour. Ranging from dry to spicy to sweet to savoury, vodka based cocktails always taste good. There is a vodka cocktail for every drinker and occasion. So, let’s have a look at some of the best vodka cocktails.
Cosmopolitan
This is one of the most popular vodka cocktails out there. It’s popularity peaked in the 1990s when it featured heavily in the HBO show “Sex and The City”. However it is much older than that. One of the first references to this amazing drink was in 1934 when it was published in “The Pioneers of mixing at Elite Bars”. This light and fruity martini is a great choice for a casual night out.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Cointreau orange liqueur
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- ¼ ounce cranberry juice.
- Orange peel for garnishing
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. There are different kinds of cocktail shakers available in the market and you could choose the one which suits your need.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish it with orange peel.
This drink has inspired countless variations over the years. Campari cosmo, Crantini, Pink Honey Martini are some of them.
Bloody Mary
This vodka and tomato juice highball is a favourite brunch drink of many. It has been hailed as one of the best cocktails ever. The hangover fighting properties of this drink are a cherry on the top of the cake. It can be modified according to your taste and can be as sweet or spicy as you like.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka.
- 3 ounces tomato juice.
- ½ ounce lemon juice.
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce.
- Pinch celery salt.
- Pinch ground pepper.
- Pickle spear or lemon wedge for garnishing.
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Build all the liquid ingredients in a highball glass over ice cubes. The highball glass is used for tall mixed drinks.
- Stir well.
- Add seasonings. Adjust according to taste.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
- Serve and enjoy.
Tomato juice is a key ingredient to a Bloody Mary. So, the best quality juice should be used to make this drink.
Moscow Mule
One of the most popular Vodka based cocktails, the Moscow Mule is refreshing and amazing to taste. The recipe for this drink dates to world war 2.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Like wedge for garnishing
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Pour vodka and lime juice into copper mug or a Collins glass.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
- Serve and enjoy.
Screwdriver
As is the case with many Vodka cocktails the screwdriver is heavy on fruit. Fresh squeezed orange juice is preferred to make an amazing screwdriver. Although it is not a necessity. There are many additions that you can do to make a better screwdriver.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces orange juice
- 2 Ounces vodka
- For garnishing, you can use orange slice
Steps
- Gather the ingredients.
- Build the ingredients in a Collins glass filled with ice.
- Stir well.
- Garnish with orange slice.
This is one of the simplest vodka based cocktails and can be made from scratch with ease.
Apple Martini
The apple martini or appletini as it is fondly called, is a sweet drink with an authentic apple flavor. Variations of the drink allow bartenders to prepare an apple martini according to the preferences of the customers. Apple Martinis are the most popular fruit martinis in the bar. Sour apple martinis use green apple schnapps.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce green apple schnapps
- ¼ ounce lemon juice
- Lemon peel for garnishing
- You can also use apple slice for garnishing
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Pour all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well.
- Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish it with apple slice.
- Serve and enjoy.
The sweetness of the apple schnapps vary. The lemon juice should also be adjusted accordingly. Dip the apple slice in lemon juice before garnishing, to prevent it from turning yellow once it comes in contact with oxygen.
Black Russian
A simple and satisfying cocktail, the Black Russian is an amazing vodka based drink. The combination of vodka with coffee liqueur in this lowball, is magnificent, making it an irresistible drink.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
- Cherries for garnishing
Steps
- Gather the ingredients.
- Build the ingredients in an old fashioned glass filled with ice.
- Stir well.
- Garnish using the cherries.
- Serve and enjoy.
There are different variations of this drink available. These include- Coffee Vodka, Chocolate Vodka, Cake Vodka. The Black Russian is a strong drink and should be made accordingly.
Vodka Tonic
This easy to make, refreshing sipper, is perfect for every occasion. Since this drink has a limited number of ingredients, choosing the right vodka is essential. A subpar vodka won’t add anything to a drink and moreover its impurities will take over the drink too.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of vodka
- 1 splash of fresh lime juice
- 5 shots of tonic water
- For garnishing you can use lime wheels
Steps
- Gather the ingredients.
- Pour the vodka and lime juice into an ice filled highball glass.
- Fill with tonic and stir.
- Garnish with lime wheels.
- Serve and enjoy.
Adding half a shot if fruit liqueur is a good idea if you want to experiment. Mango liqueur is a fantastic choice for that purpose. If you have had a vodka tonic before and couldn’t find it to your liking, then you can try it with a combo of tonic and premium vodka. The alcohol content of this drink can be modified according to your needs.
Cape Codder
This is one of the easiest mixed drinks that you will find. It is a pretty simple drink and a great choice for happy hour. Happy Hour drinks are soothing and refreshing and this cocktail is one of them. It is a reliable drink that can be mixed up and prepared in few minutes. The heavy flavour of Cranberry juice will disguise any impurities the vodka may have.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- Lime wedge can be used for garnishing
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Pour the ingredients into a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Stir well.
- Squeeze the juice from the lime wedge into the drink and then drop it into the drink.
- Serve and enjoy.
This is a simple yet amazing drink that should be tried at least once. It has a refreshing taste and is a great happy hour drink. There are different variations of this drink available too. You can make this drink as strong as you like. It can be divided into 2 types. Duos means a liquor and 1 fruit juice. Trios means a liquor and 2 fruit juices.
Lemon drop martini
Vodka is the perfect base for sweet martinis. The Lemon Drop Martini is a popular variant of the classic Martini. The fresh taste of the drink is far better than any bottled lemon drop can offer.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Lemon twist for garnishing.
Steps
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with lemon twist.
- Serve and enjoy!
Simple drinks like the lemon drop martini require the best ingredients. Choose a smooth vodka for making this cocktail. You can add more syrup if you find the drink a little too tart.
These are some vodka based cocktails that should be tasted atleast once. These drinks are soothing, refreshing and pretty simple to make. With many different variations available, these drinks offer a chance to enjoy the fresh taste of vodka and the fun that comes with it!