Vodka is the most neutrally flavored spirit, which is why there are so many vodka drinks. However, because of vodka's relative flavorlessness, you'll need to add flavorful ingredients to punch up your vodka cocktails. Drinks made with vodka can be light and fruity, puckeringly sour, sweet and enticing, or aromatic and herbal.
Sweet and Sour Vodka Drinks
Traditionally, sours combined lemon juice and simple syrup with a hard liquor base (for example, a whiskey sour contains equal parts lemon juice and simple syrup to two parts whiskey). However, over the years, sours have evolved to be any drink that has a spirit base combined with a tart element, such as lemon juice, lime juice, or grapefruit juice, and a sweet element such as simple syrup or liqueur. Vodka is a great spirit to add to sours due to its neutral flavor profile, but you can also punch up the flavor of sour vodka cocktails with flavored vodkas.
Vodka Sour
This is a traditional vodka sour. You can make endless variations by switching the citrus juice you use, using infused simple syrups or liqueurs, or substituting flavored vodkas.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Variations
Use the portions and method above, but make these substitutions:
- Lemon juice + Chambord + citrus-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + simple syrup + blackberry-infused vodka
- Lime juice + orange-flavored liqueur + citrus flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + amaretto + vodka
- Lemon juice + orange flavored liqueur + tea-infused vodka
Vodka Grapefruit Sour
This is a vodka sour that mixes the pucker power of grapefruit juice with simple syrup and vodka. For best results, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces vodka or grapefruit flavored vodka
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a mint sprig.
Cucumber-Mint Vodka Sour
Refreshing and flavorful, this sour recipe makes the most of the enticing combination of cucumber-flavored vodka, mint, and lime juice.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces cucumber-infused vodka
- Ice
- Cucumber ribbon and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and simple syrup.
- Add the vodka and ice. Shake to chill.
- Spiral the cucumber ribbon around the inside wall of a rocks glass. Add ice.
- Strain the drink into the prepared glass and garnish with a mint sprig.
Fizzy Vodka Cocktails
Adding a fizzy element brings flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel to drinks made with vodka. Try these delicious vodka fizzes.
Blueberry Mint Fizz
This fizz is flavorful and refreshing, and the blueberry garnish adds a punch of color.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves plus mint sprig for garnish
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- ½ lemon, cut into wedges
- 1½ ounces blueberry-infused vodka
- Ice
- Club soda
- Fresh blueberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint, sugar, and lemon wedges.
- Add the blueberry vodka and ice. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with the soda.
- Drop in blueberries and garnish with a mint sprig.
Watermelon Fizz
This refreshing fizz uses fresh watermelon, tart lime juice, and ginger beer for a spicy, nose-tickling cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ cup watermelon cubes
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Ginger beer
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the watermelon cubes with the lime juice and sugar.
- Add the vodka and ice. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Top with the ginger beer and garnish with the lime wheel.
Summer Strawberry Basil Fizz
This refreshing cocktail tastes best when strawberries are in season in June and July.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sliced strawberries, plus additional for garnish
- ½ lime, cut into wedges
- 10 basil leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces basil-infused vodka or strawberry-infused vodka (or equal parts of each)
- Club soda
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries with the lime wedges, basil leaves, and sugar.
- Add the vodka and fill the shaker with ice. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a large wine glass filled with ice. Top with the club soda.
- Garnish with strawberries and a basil sprig.
Cranberry-Rosemary Fizz
Looking for something that will go well into fall and winter? This simple vodka fizz uses wintery flavors for a tasty vodka mixed drink.
Ingredients
- ½ lime, cut into wedges
- 2 rosemary sprigs, plus 1 additional for garnish
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1½ ounces rosemary-infused vodka
- Ice
- Club soda
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime wedges and 2 rosemary sprigs with the sugar.
- Add the cranberry juice and vodka. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with the club soda.
- Garnish with the remaining rosemary sprig and a lime wheel.
Highball Drinks Made With Vodka
Highballs are a simple combination of a base spirit and a mixer over ice and served in a highball glass. These are usually easy, two-ingredient cocktails plus ice and garnish, and vodka has so many possible mixers, it's easy to come up with an array of vodka highballs.
Vodka and Grapefruit Cocktail
It's best to freshly squeeze grapefruit juice for this simple highball, but you can also use commercially prepared juice.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 6 ounces grapefruit juice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka and grapefruit juice.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
Vanilla Vodka Soda Highball
Love cream soda? Then try this tasty two-ingredient highball.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whipped cream flavored vodka
- 6 ounces cream soda
- Ice
Instructions
- In a highball glass, combine the vodka and cream soda.
- Add ice and stir.
Vodka Ocean Highball
This cocktail breaks the traditional highball 2-ingredient rule by adding a third ingredient for color and flavor.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce blue curaçao
- 2 ounces blueberry flavored vodka
- Ice
- Club soda
Instructions
- In a highball glass, stir together the blue curaçao and vodka with ice.
- Top with club soda.
Martini Style Vodka Drinks
A vodka martini is the most well-known vodka martini-style drink, followed closely by the cosmopolitan and the lemon drop. However, vodka's versatility lends itself well to a number of martini style cocktails that, while they aren't an actual martini, are served like you would a martini: up (no ice) in a chilled martini or cocktail glass.
Black Russian Mocha Martini
This is a martini-style twist on a black Russian cocktail.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce chocolate-flavored liqueur
- ½ ounce coffee-flavored liqueur
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- Ice
- Coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass or martini glass.
- In a mixing glass, combine the chocolate and coffee liqueurs with the vodka.
- Add ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
If you like this cocktail, there are many more vanilla vodka drinks you can try.
Orange-Berry Vodka Martini
You can substitute any berry liqueur for the Chambord in this martini-style cocktail or even use crème de cassis, a blackcurrant flavored liqueur.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce Chambord
- ½ ounce orange-flavored liqueur
- 2 ounces citrus flavored vodka
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini or cocktail glass.
- In a mixing glass, combine the Chambord, orange liqueur, and vodka.
- Add ice and stir to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Almond Martini
If you love almonds, then this sweet twist on a vodka martini is bound to become a favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce amaretto
- ¼ ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 ounces vodka
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini or a cocktail glass.
- In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
More Drinks With Vodka
Looking for even more tasty ways to enjoy vodka? Try these cocktails.
Blood Orange Rosemary Cocktail
Blood orange and rosemary make a delicious flavor combination.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- 2 to 3 dashes rosemary bitters
- ¾ ounces blood orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces citrus flavored vodka
- Ice
- Orange wheels and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the blood orange juice, rosemary bitters, blood orange liqueur, and citrus vodka.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled coupe. Garnish with orange wheels and rosemary sprigs.
Anise Vodka Tonic
If you like your cocktails refreshing with a bitter edge, then this is the drink for you.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce anisette liqueur
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Tonic water
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, anisette liqueur, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with the tonic water.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Vodka Clear With a Twist
For those who prefer their vodka cocktails basic, this clear and refreshing drink will hit the spot. You can use flat or sparkling mineral water in any flavor. Choose any citrus twist you wish. The result is a dry, refreshing, and aromatic cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounce vodka
- 4 ounces flavored mineral water
- Ice
- Citrus twist
Instructions
- In a wine glass, stir the vodka and mineral water with ice.
- Run a citrus twist around the rim of your glass and then drop it into the drink.
Vodka Cocktails That Burst With Flavor
Vodka is a versatile base for a number of flavorful cocktails. So no matter how you like your drinks, you're sure to find the perfect vodka drink for you. Next, treat yourself to some flavored vodka drinks.
