Let's face it: Vodka sodas may be an easy, refreshing way to get tipsy, but they do little to excite your taste buds. Here, 15 co*cktails to shake up your vodka drinking.
1
Henley Highball
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 2 oz. vodka, 1 ½ oz. apple cider, 1 oz. simple syrup, and ½ oz. lemon juice. Shake, and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with 1 oz. soda water, 3 dashes of Fee Brothers Barrel-Aged Bitters, and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Garnish with baby’s breath and zested orange. Recipe from Ryan Lindquist, Bar Manager of
2
Autumn Harvest Punch
Put 2 apples, cored and thinly sliced; 2 pears, cored and thinly sliced; and 1 lemon, thinly sliced, in a punch bowl. Pour in 5 ¾ cups apple cider, 3 cups Smirnoff No. 21 vodka, and ¼ cup fresh lemon juice. Stir to combine, and chill until ready to serve. Right before serving, add in 1 liter ginger ale. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods. Serves 16.
Recipe from Megan Marlowe, Strawberry Blondie Kitchen.
3
Peach and Cranberry Spritz
Combine 3 oz. Fever Tree soda water and 1 ½ oz. Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Blossom in a wine glass over ice. Top with 2 dashes cranberry bitters, and garnish with a cranberry.
Recipe from Ketel One.
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4
Crimson & Clove Sparkler
Combine 1 ½ oz. Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose, 2 oz. pomegranate juice, ¾ oz. fresh grapefruit juice, and a pinch of ground cloves in a shaker with ice. Shake, then pour through a sieve into a goblet filled with ice. Finish with 1 oz. Fever Tree soda water and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds.
Recipe from Ketel One.
5
Tiki Citrus Swizzle
Pour 1 ½ oz. Three Olives Citrus Vodka, 1 oz. pineapple juice, ¾ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. ginger liqueur, ½ oz. falernum, and ¼ oz. simple syrup into a large glass, and fill two-thirds of the way with crushed ice. Stir vigorously, fill glass with more crushed ice, and top with soda water. Serve with a paper straw and a swizzle stick.
Recipe from Three Olives.
6
Blackberry Vodka Mojito
In a highball glass, muddle 4 basil leaves and 4 blackberries. Fill glass with ice, then add 1 ½ oz. Smirnoff No. 21 vodka and 6 oz. lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a slice of crystallized ginger and fresh berries.
Recipe from Karly Gomez, A Simple Pantry.
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7
Blackberry Collins
Place 4-5 blackberries into a shaker, and muddle. Add 1 ½ oz. Belvedere Ginger Zest vodka, ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice, and ¾ oz. simple syrup. Shake, strain into a highball glass filled with ice, and top with 3 oz. ginger beer. Garnish with blackberries and mint sprigs.
Recipe from Belvedere.
8
Blue Jellyfish
Muddle 8-10 fresh blueberries in a shaker. Add 2 oz. Tito's Vodka, 1 oz. simple syrup, and 1 oz. fresh lemon juice. Shake, and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Pour 1-2 oz. pinot noir over a spoon and into the glass to create a red wine "float."
Recipe from The Flying Fisherman.
9
Watermelon Cooler
Combine 1 ¼ oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 2 oz. watermelon juice, and ½ oz. fresh lime juices in glass with ice. Stir to combine, and top with ginger beer.
Recipe from Cochon Butcher.
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10
Garden Party
Combine 1 ½ oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 1 oz. lemon juice, and ¾ oz. simple syrup in a glass with ice. Stir to combine, and top with club soda. Garnish with 2 lemon wheels and sprigs of rosemary and thyme.
Recipe from Tito’s/mixologist Abdul Ford.
11
Bloody Good Martini
Combine 2 ½ oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, ¾ oz. tomato water (not juice), and ½ oz. olive juice in a shaker with ice. Shake or stir, and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Recipe from Tito’s.
12
Spicy Cold
In a shaker, combine 2 oz. SKYY vodka, ¾ oz. fresh lime juice, ¾ oz. simple syrup, and 2 dashes Mexican hot sauce. Pour into a glass with a salted rim and filled with ice. Garnish with cucumber dimes.
Recipe from SKYY.
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13
Venerable Discoland
In a shaker, combine 2 oz. SKYY vodka, ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice, ¼ oz. white creme de cacao, ½ oz. simple syrup, and 3 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters. Pour into a punch glass filled with ice. Garnish with your favorite fresh fruit.
Recipe from SKYY.
14
Sophia Loren
In a shaker with ice, combine 1 oz. Cathead vodka, ¾ oz. grapefruit juice, ½ oz. Campari, and ½ oz. simple syrup. Strain into a coupe, top with Champagne, and garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Recipe from Boucherie.
15
Ginger Zest Spritz
In a spritz glass, combine 1 oz. Belvedere Ginger Zest, ¾ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. honey syrup, and 4 oz. soda water. Garnish with ginger and lime slices.Recipe from Belvedere.
Hailey Eber
Hailey Eber was the longtime Food Editor at the New York Post. She’s now a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, where she enjoys tacos, mezcal, and not having to walk places in the snow.
