Vodka drinks are some of the most popular mixes in the world. As a neutral spirit that packs a strong punch, vodka is the perfect replacement for alcohol in cocktails, especially because it brings out the taste of other ingredients.
In this article, we’ll discuss the best vodka cocktails to mix at home or order at a bar on your next night out.
List of Vodka Cocktails
- Vodka Soda
- Vodka Sour
- Vodka Tonic
- Vodka Collins
- Bloody Mary
- White Russian
- Cosmopolitan
- Sea Breeze
- Cape Codder (Vodka Cranberry Cocktail)
- Screwdriver
- Vodka Root Beer
- Black Russian
- Espresso Martini
- Vodka Martini
- Salty Dog
- Moscow Mule
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Jack Frost Cocktail
- Sex On the Beach
- Greyhound
- Kamikaze
- Mudslide
- Appletini
- Blue Lagoon
- Alabama Slammer
1. Vodka Soda
Vodka Soda (sometimes called a Vodka Spritzer) is a simple, two-ingredient cocktail made with vodka and club soda or sparkling water.
You can also choose to garnish it with a lemon wedge and add a sprinkle of lemon juice, but this cocktail is perfect in its classic form.
Not all vodkas taste the same, and the Vodka Soda lets you sip in all the subtle hints of the spirit without any noise. Try it if you want a cocktail that packs a stronger punch.
2. Vodka Sour
The Vodka Sour is a sweet, tart drink with a frothy topping made from egg whites. It packs a lot more flavor than vodka soda, but it’s still easy to make.
The cocktail calls for vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Add them all into a cocktail shaker, then add the creamy egg whites on top, and enjoy.
This simple recipe leaves a lot of room for interpretation. You can find many variations of the Vodka sour that use creative garnishes or splash other types of fruit juices to add more flavors.
3. Vodka Tonic
If you’re a fan of gin and tonics, then give the Vodka Tonic a shot. Unlike its gin counterpart, this cocktail is all about tasting all the flavors of the tonic water.
Sprinkle some lime juice (or lemon), and this vodka cocktail is the ideal summer drink. Refreshing, not too sweet, and light enough to enjoy multiple glasses.
It’s a great vodka cocktail for a hot summer day. With virtually no prep time, the vodka tonic is an excellent drink for house parties, as your guests won’t have to wait too long for their drink.
4. Vodka Collins
Think of the Vodka Collins as lemonade with a kick. It’s another sweet and tart mixed drink that focuses primarily on the flavors of lemon juice and simple syrup.
Add some club soda and your favorite bottle of vodka, and the drink is mixed to perfection. Always opt for fresh juice to control the sweetness.
Like other simple cocktail recipes, the Vodka Collins opens up many delicious combinations. Instead of simple syrup, use fruit syrup to make a slightly fruitier combination that is still as refreshing as the original recipe.
5. Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is the world’s most popular vodka cocktail, especially for those trying to cure a rough hangover. The original recipe has seven ingredients, but the Bloody Mary gives a lot of room for interpretation and mixing creativity.
If you want to shoot for the classics, you’ll need:
- Vodka
- Tomato juice
- Black pepper
- Hot sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Paprika
- Lemon and lime wedges
- Celery salt
Shake them all together, and garnish with anything from lime wedges to green olives.
Today, the Bloody Mary comes with some of the most creative garnishes we’ve ever seen. Some bars and restaurants even add mini burgers or fried shrimp as garnish. The beauty of tomato juice is that you can pair it with lots of savory flavors.
6. White Russian
The White Russian needs two minutes of your time, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream to create a rich and milky drink that almost resembles a latte.
Though not strong, it’s a heavier drink, so it works best as a winter or colder-weather cocktail. But feel free to splurge in the summer as well, especially if you swap the heavy cream with something lighter, like half-and-half.
This cocktail isn’t necessarily great for sipping on its own. But you can bring it out as an after-dinner drink or serve it next to a dessert.
7. Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan is a timeless classic vodka cocktail that rose to fame in the 1990s, thanks to the popular TV show Sex and the City.
Whether you want to play into your inner Carrie Bradshaw or not, this delicious mixed drink has a balanced flavor profile: not too sweet, not too tart. It hits everything just right.
The Cosmo needs vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and an orange peel. Mix it with ice for the perfect summer beverage. Call a few friends over for a barbecue or a pool party, and serve them a few Cosmopolitan glasses to make the event a success.
8. Sea Breeze
The Sea Breeze is a fruity and citrusy beverage ideal for a hot summer day or when lounging on a beach during a vacation.
It only needs three ingredients to create a light and flavorful blend that makes most taste buds happy. Combine the vodka with some cranberry and grapefruit juice, garnish with a grapefruit slice, and enjoy.
You can also use citrus-flavored vodka if you want to enhance the sourness of the drink, but it’s optional. Or, if you want to make it even more sour, add some extra lemon juice to it.
9. Cape Codder
The Cape Codder (also known as the Cape Cod) is a vodka-cranberry cocktail that uses just two ingredients to create a refreshing and light drink.
It’s less sweet than other vodka-cranberry juice combinations but equally refreshing on a hot day. The Cape Codder is usually poured into a Collins glass with ice and topped off with a lime wedge or fresh mint leaves.
10. The Screwdriver
The Screwdriver is vodka’s version of a Mimosa. Instead of sparkling wine, you mix the orange juice with your best vodka for an easy cocktail that’s also the perfect canvas for experimentation.
The simplicity of this drink makes it the ideal choice for brunch or house parties, as guests can also mix it themselves. Use freshly squeezed orange juice for a lower-calorie alternative.
11. Vodka Root Beer Float
If root beer floats were your favorite dessert as a child, then you need to give the vodka version a shot.
Vodka’s a great spirit because it has a neutral flavor, so it won’t disturb the profile of the root beer float. This combination is creamy and refreshing and can pack a strong punch if you’re generous with the vodka.
It’s best to make it with ginger beer to get a stronger taste. If ginger ale is all you have, add some extra ginger powder to compensate.
It’s a filling drink that acts more like a dessert. You can bring it out as an after-dinner treat.
12. Black Russian
If you’re not a fan of the creaminess of the White Russian, we’ve got just the thing for you. The Black Russian combines vodka with coffee liqueur to create a smooth drink that lets the coffee flavor shine.
Add some ice cubes and one whole cherry, and this classic vodka cocktail will skyrocket as one of your favorite vodka cocktails in no time.
Though it seems simple, this drink is quite filling and boozy. You’ll feel the effects of the vodka after a few glasses, so remember to pace yourself!
13. Espresso Martini
Coffee lovers who aren’t satisfied with the flavors of coffee liqueur alone can turn to the Espresso Martini. It’s like the Black Russian with an extra shot of freshly brewed espresso.
The flavor is still smooth and lighter than the White Russian, but the espresso gives it more creaminess and a distinct coffee flavor. You can create different taste profiles if you play with brews and add some spices to your liking.
Serve in a martini glass and enjoy a boost of energy. And no, it’s not technically a martini since it doesn’t have vodka, but it’s still strong and delicious.
14. Vodka Martini
The original Martini recipe calls for gin, but if you’re not a fan of herbal spirits, the Vodka Martini has a simpler yet elegant taste.
The Vodka Martini is a pleasant drink in all three forms:
- Dry, which adds very little (or none at all) dry vermouth
- Wet, which is more generous with the dry vermouth
- Dirty, which adds olive brine to get a savory flavor
15. Salty Dog
If you’re looking for a slightly bitter, refreshing, and somewhat salty vodka cocktail, then Salty Dog is for you. It can sound strange when written on paper, but this vodka drink is worth a try.
It combines vodka with grapefruit juice for the base of the cocktail, but it’s the garnish that completes the flavor profile. This drink calls for sea salt carefully placed on the rim of the highball glass and a grapefruit wedge or slice.
16. Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is an all-year-round drink. It’s refreshing enough to enjoy in the summer, and the ginger ale in the mix makes it a great treat for the winter holidays as well.
The cocktail is traditionally served in a copper mug, but you can swap it for a Collins glass too. All you need is vodka, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer to get a sweet, spicy, and strong mix.
17. Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea is one of the most popular vodka cocktails, but you don’t have to go out to enjoy it.
It’s more ingredient-heavy than other vodka-mixed drinks, but once you gather them all, you can delight yourself with this cocktail anytime you want.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Vodka
- White rum
- Tequila
- Gin
- Triple sec
- Simple syrup
- Lemon juice
Long Island Iced Tea is a sweet and sour drink, but it does leave a slightly bitter finish. It has a pleasant profile, but considering the number of spirits in it, it’s a lot stronger than most vodka cocktails.
18. Jack Frost Cocktail
The Jack Frost Cocktail is for anyone with a sweet tooth. It plays with tropical aromas, but it’s a rich drink that can also be served in the winter.
This cocktail combines pineapple juice with blue Curacao liqueur and coconut cream. Add vodka, and enjoy one of your new favorite vodka cocktails.
However, a cocktail shaker won’t cut it here. The Jack Frost Cocktail needs to be blended, along with crushed ice, to get a heavier, almost smoothie-like consistency.
19. Sex On The Beach
Sex On The Beach is a classic vodka cocktail that’s best enjoyed on a hot summer’s day, but feel free to mix it whenever you’re in the mood for a fruity drink that has just enough sourness to keep you from feeling like you’re drinking candy.
This vodka cocktail needs peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice. It’s best served in a glass with ice, topped with an organ wedge and a maraschino cherry. The cocktail is ideal for a beginner vodka drinker, as the fruity taste profile covers the harshness of the spirit.
20. Greyhound
The Greyhound is a two-part cocktail that mixes vodka with grapefruit juice. It’s yet another simple mixed drink that causes no fuss for bartenders.
It has a tart taste and a bitter finish, but you can experiment a lot with this drink, especially regarding garnishes. You can even add some simple syrup if you want a sweeter edge.
21. Kamikaze
Not to be confused with the shot (called the Kamikaze Shooter), the Kamikaze cocktail is a sour blend that uses vodka, triple sec, and lime juice.
It’s served in a glass filled with ice cubes and gives a refreshing kick that’s ideal for mixing during a house party with many guests since it requires no fuss to make.
22. Mudslide
The Mudslide is the perfect after-dinner drink. It’s a dessert-like cocktail that uses vodka, coffee liqueur, heavy cream, and Irish cream to create a deliciously sweet and heavy drink.
During the summer, you can swap the heavy cream for a scoop of vanilla ice cream and make a frozen Mudslide. Serve it in a chilled martini glass to impress everyone with Instagram-friendly drinks and desserts.
23. Appletini
This is another martini that’s not technically a martini, but don’t hold that against it.
The Appletini’s five minutes of fame fizzled in the 2010s, but even if you don’t see this drink on your favorite bar’s menu anymore, you can mix it at home and delight your taste buds with refreshing notes of apple and sour.
It needs either apple liqueur or juice, depending on how strong you want to mix your cocktail. Each will have the signature sweet and sour taste of fresh green apples. You’ll also need lemon juice and Calvados, a type of apple brandy that adds hints of baking spices to the mix.
Add everything to a cocktail shaker or a mason jar, and strain into a martini glass.
24. Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon doesn’t feel like an alcoholic beverage at all. The drink is full of sweet, zesty notes that play subtly together to create a refreshing mix you can enjoy all day long.
It uses vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade, though you can use lemon juice instead if you want to cut back on the sweetness. Lime juice is also a good replacement.
25. Alabama Slammer
The Alabama Slammer is a child of the 1970s. It’s not a classic cocktail, but it’s a memorable one.
It mixes vodka with whiskey (usually Southern Comfort), amaretto, orange juice, and grenadine to create a mixture that screams summer fun. Garnish it with a maraschino cherry, and serve in a highball glass with ice.
