Top 10 Vodka Cocktail Recipes
Vodka is the backbone to a number of cocktails. It’s a relatively neutral spirit, so combining it with other ingredients allow those other ingredients to come through. Whether you’re using a fruit juice, liqueurs, or anything else, Vodka is a great choice. Vodka is also the perfect experience for adding a little bit of zing to an otherwise weak drink; you can strengthen anything up with just a bit of Vodka.
For some of the cocktails below, you may be tempted to use cheap Vodka and disguise it with the other ingredients and flavours. Don’t do this. Use a nice smooth Vodka so you can be sure to taste everything. If you don’t see what you like here, see cocktails you can make with your ingredients here. If you’re only interested in Vodka cocktails and want to browse, see all of our Vodka cocktails.
Anyway, here’s what we like for Vodka cocktails:
Vodka Martini
We’ll start with a classic, yet easy cocktail, the Vodka Martini. All it you need to make the classic Vodka Martini is Vodka, Dry Vermouth, and something to garnish it with. Popular garnishes include lemon or an olive, but you’re welcome to have fun with it to see what you like and what goes best with your Vodka of choice (as well as for your taste).
The Vodka Martini is a great base for any number of ‘tini style drinks. Purists will say that these aren’t “true” Martinis, which is technically correct. But if the drink tastes good, who cares what it’s called.
Espresso Martini
Sticking in Martini territory, we have the Espresso Martini. All you need for an Espresso Martini is Vodka, Kahlua, and some coffee. Again, if you want to split hairs, it’s a Martini in name only, but if you like Vodka and you like coffee, who cares what it’s called!
Just like you should be using a good Vodka in any cocktail, you should be using a good coffee in an Espresso Martini as well. Overly bitter or generally poor quality coffee will make an equally bitter or poor drink. Generally people will use normally caffeinated coffee for their drink, but if you’re sensitive to caffeine or just need to avoid it, feel free to try decaf!
Furthermore, the recipe for a good Espresso Martini calls for Espresso! If you don’t have access to it, feel free to use a different method to make the coffee.
White Russian
Straying a little bit, but but broadly keeping keeping coffee flavours, we present the White Russian. A White Russian is a mixture of Vodka, Kahlua, and Milk. It’s super easy to make and uses ingredients a lot of people will already have at home, so it’s likely you can make this one easily!
And if you’re a fan of the Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, you can walk around your house house in a bathrobe feeling like The Dude.
Moscow Mule
Moving to some other interesting ingredients, a Moscow Mule is just Vodka, Lime Juice, and Ginger Beer. Served with crushed ice, the Moscow Mule is an interesting drink that’s popular all over the world. Have fun with a few of these!
Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan, or “Cosmo” is a simple concoction of Vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice, and Lime Juice. There’s a certain sophistication to a Cosmopolitan, almost more so than a Martini. With that being said, although served in a Martini glass, it’s great that its creator came up with a better name than something like a Cran-Limetini! It’s so much more than that!
The Cosmo has a bit of a reputation of being a feminine drink, mostly due to a certain TV show from the 1990’s that will remain nameless. However, we don’t like to stereotype here. This cocktail is for anybody who likes Vodka with the somewhat bold flavour of Cranberry Juice and a little more.
Sea Breeze
If you like Cranberry Juice, a Sea Breeze is similar to a Cosmopolitan except it mixes Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Grapefruit Juice. It’s a relaxing and refreshing drink that lives up to its name in style. Enjoy a few of these on the beach.
Sex on the Beach
Speaking of the beach, a Sex on the Beach is another very famous Vodka based cocktail. It also has Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, and Cranberry Juice in it; Cranberry Juice is certainly popular with Vodka!
The Sex on the Beach was invented in the 1980’s, along with a number of other cocktail recipes containing Peach Schnapps. This was because Peach Schnapps first became available in the United States at this time. This, of course, lead to more than a few cocktails featuring it coming about.
Watch out for this drink though. It’s got some strength to it but is very easy to drink.
Woo Woo
The Woo Woo is another great Vodka based cocktail that, like the previous cocktail, also contains Peach Schnapps as well as Cranberry Juice and a little bit of Lime Juice. Like the Sex on the Beach, the Woo Woo came to us in the 1980’s when Peach Schnapps was first introduced to the United States.
While the Woo Woo isn’t quite as famous as the Sex on the Beach, it’s a great cocktail in its own right. It’s a little bit more tart than the Sex on the Beach, as it ditches the Orange Juice and adds a little bit of Lime Juice, but that may suit certain taste buds.
Enjoy!
Lemon Drop
The Lemon Drop is a cocktail that was popularised in the 1970’s. With Vodka, Triple Sec, and Lemon Juice, it can be a little sharp, however it also has a generous pour of Simple Syrup which easily takes the edge off. This, combined with a sugared rim, makes for one great drink.
While we present the Lemon Drop as a standard cocktail, some will enjoy it as a shooter. Just lower the volume of all the ingredients and enjoy a round of Lemon Drops with friends.
Other than that, a Lemon Drop is pretty easy to whip up. With ingredients you’re likely to have at home, you don’t have an excuse!
Harvey Wallbanger
The Harvey Wallbanger is another very fun Vodka based cocktail that also contains Orange Juice, Lemon Juice, and Galliano. You may not have Galliano in your usual home bar, but it’s worth picking up a bottle.
While this cocktail is fun and fruit, the Galliano as herbal notes and a little bit of sweetness to the drink. This pushes the Harvey Wallbanger well beyond a simple Vodka and Orange Juice cocktail. It’s so much more.
And hey, it’s a really great name for a cocktail. There’s a few ideas where it came from, but either way it’s tons of fun.