Vodka, lime, sugar, and ice are four versatile ingredients that should be included in every well-stocked bar's selection of basic liquors and mixers. With these simple ingredients, you can create an array of delicious mixed drinks.
Caipiroska
You've probably heard of the caipirinha, which is a Brazilian rum-based cocktail. Try its cousin, the caipiroska, which is prepared with vodka.
Ingredients
- 6 lime wedges (from one lime)
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 2 ounces vodka
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle the lime wedges with sugar.
- Add the vodka ice and stir.
Vodka Gimlet
A gimlet is traditionally made with gin, which is an aromatic spirit because it's infused with botanicals. However, you can replace the gin with the more neutrally flavored vodka in a gimlet for a tasty sweet and tart take on the classic cocktail. While the classic gimlet presentation is up in a cocktail glass, you can also serve it on the rocks or chilled in a rocks glass.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Vodka Rickey
The vodka Rickey is another twist on a gin drink. It uses the gimlet recipe above but adds club soda, another must-have when keeping your bar stocked.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 3 ounces club soda
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Add the club soda. Stir.
- Garnish with the lime wedge.
Moscow Mule
A vodka company (Smirnoff) invented the Moscow mule, which is a combination of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. While the traditional recipe doesn't call for sugar, some recipes do because some people prefer a sweeter cocktail. Test it both ways--with and without the sugar--and see which you like best.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a mule cup filled with ice.
- Add the ginger beer. Stir.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Vodka Soda Lime
Sweetness in cocktails is a matter of personal taste. While some people prefer their vodka-soda-lime cocktails as dry as a bone, others like a little sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
- 2 lime wedges
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 4 ounces club soda
Instructions
- In a collins glass, muddle the lime wedges and sugar.
- Add the vodka and stir to dissolve sugar.
- Add the ice and club soda. Stir.
Cosmopolitan
The classic girls' night out drink, the cosmopolitan, contains its sugar on the rim. To sugar the rim, run a lime wedge along the rim of the glass and dip the glass in sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 lime slice
- 2 tablespoons super fine sugar
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces citron vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- Run the lime slice around the rim of the glass and dip the rim in sugar. Reserve the lime wedge.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, orange liqueur, vodka, and cranberry juice.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with the reserved lime slice.
Key Lime Pie Martini
This simple drink uses vanilla flavored vodka and a sugared rim for a tasty confection.
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge
- 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed key lime juice
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of the chilled glass.
- Spread the sugar in a thin layer on a plate. Dip the damp glass rim in the sugar.
- Pour the sugar that remains on the plate into the cocktail shaker.
- Add the lime juice, vanilla vodka, and heavy cream.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
If you love the taste of this cocktail, you might enjoy these other vanilla vodka drinks.
Vodka Mojito
If you don't have rum and you're craving a mojito, then vodka will do in a pinch. The vodka provides a nice, clean backdrop for the lime juice, sugar, and mint.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 3 lime wedges + 1 for garnish
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 3 ounces club soda
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the sugar and three lime wedges.
- Add the vodka and ice. Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Add the club soda and stir.
- Garnish with mint sprig and remaining lime wedge.
Simple Vodka, Lime, Sugar and Ice Cocktails
Using superfine sugar is a good alternative if you don't have simple syrup on hand and don't feel like making it. Just give the cocktail a little extra shaking to make sure it dissolves in the drink completely. The result is a tasty sweet, tart, strong cocktail.
