One of the best spirits for mixing into classic cocktails is vodka, with some of our favorite vodka drinks including the beloved vodka martini or the ever-popular screwdriver. When you flick through any book of cocktail recipes, you’ll find a ton of options for mixing with this versatile and widely available spirit.
For those new to vodka, it’s a clear spirit made of ethanol and water. The ethanol comes from the fermentation of potatoes, wheat, rye, corn, or other ingredients. After fermentation, the liquid is distilled (usually multiple times to remove impurities) before being filtered through charcoal or other ingredients (volcanic rock, in the case of Reyka). And we’re here to tell you what the best vodka drinks are. Keep reading.
Our 5 favorite vodka cocktails
Fans of vodka should be delighted to know that there are myriad vodka-based cocktails just waiting to be discovered. Some of the most popular, classic drinks include vodka like the vodka martini, Cosmopolitan, vodka tonic, Moscow Mule, Bloody Mary, Seabreeze, vodka soda, and more. Keep reading to see our five favorite vodka-based cocktails. As a bonus, we ranked them on overall flavor.
5. Cosmopolitan
Similar to the Cape Codder, the Cosmopolitan is a cocktail made with vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and cranberry juice. Well-known for its tart, fruity flavor and bright red hue, its history is a bit cloudy. One story says that a bartender named Neal Murray invented the drink in the summer of 1975 at a Minneapolis bar.
Another origin story is that it was created by a bartender named Toby Cecchini in 1987. Regardless of who created it, this timeless drink is perfect for any time of year, especially in the humid summer months.
4. Vodka martini
There are very few cocktails more well-known than the classic martini. The original version is made with gin and vermouth and is usually garnished with a lemon twist or an olive. The vodka martini swaps out the herbal, botanical, and juniper-centric gin and replaces it with vodka.
There are various stories about this drink’s genesis. While it first made an appearance in Jerry Thomas’ Bartender’ Guide in 1862, many believe it was invented by a bartender named Martini di Taggia. He served the drink to John D. Rockefeller in 1911.
3. Moscow Mule
If you prefer your vodka drinks to have a hint of spicy heat, the classic Moscow Mule is for you. Made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, the drink is often served in a copper mug to keep the drink colder for a longer period. Like many cocktails, there are various stories about its invention.
The most common tale takes place in 1941 at a New York City bar. This is where, according to legend, an un-named bartender ordered too much ginger beer and created the drink as a way to use it up. It was a hit among the bar’s guests and remains one of the most popular vodka-based drinks today.
2. Vodka soda
The vodka soda is one of the easiest, most refreshing vodka-based cocktails you’ll ever make. Simply put, it’s one part vodka to 2-3 parts soda water. A lemon or lime squeeze adds extra flavor.
This thirst-quenching drink’s history can be traced back to the late 1700s. This was when Schweppes first began selling soda water. Upper-class Swiss and English men and women enjoyed mixing gin, vodka, and other spirits with effervescent water to create a refreshing, boozy, summery drink.
1. Bloody Mary
There’s a reason vodka is the base for a Bloody Mary. Since it doesn’t add any other flavors, the tomato juice, spices, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, and any other ingredients are allowed to shine. A popular brunch and breakfast cocktail, this savory, salty, spicy drink has many stories about its creation.
A common belief is that the drink was created by a bartender named Fernand “Pete” Petiot at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris back in 1921.
Why vodka works for cocktails?
The multiple distillation and filtering are designed to make the spirit mellow, smooth, and borderline flavorless. This makes it the perfect shade to mix into your favorite cocktails. Its neutral flavor won’t overpower bitters, fruit juices, or any other ingredients you might use.
Vodka is a favorite spirit for mixing because it is so versatile. It can work with practically any flavor you throw at it, whether sweet, bitter, or savory, so it’s a great base for experimenting with hard-to-mix flavors like cranberry or tomato. It also adds a degree of texture to a drink, particularly when it is chilled, as it gets thicker when cold and adds a denser mouthfeel to a drink.
Surprisingly, vodka can even be a good choice for non-alcoholic cocktails. While most vodkas are typically strongly alcoholic, at around 40% ABV, there are also non-alcoholic vodka options available that can add some heat and heft to a drink that mimics the role of alcohol without the intoxicating effects. And these can be a great addition to mocktails, as alcohol-free expert Joshua Gandee, host of the No Proof podcast, explained to Vinepair.
“Yes, there is non-alcoholic vodka, and yes, it works,” Gandee said. “Dhōs Vodka Free carries the complexity and character of vodka, which brings life and substance to creative takes on alcohol-free cocktails. With a dash of horseradish extract in the makeup, there’s enough zing to feel a lingering heat. However, it’s bright and light with flavors of sun-washed stone fruit, particularly white peach and apricot. Perfect for adding to your preferred Bloody Mary mix or emboldening your favorite tonic.”
How do you drink good-quality vodka?
Each of these cocktails offers a great way to enjoy high-quality vodkas. But if you really want to learn more about the spirit, especially if you’re buying small-batch or craft vodkas, then you may also want to try drinking it neat. Don’t think about slamming shots of dubious vodka in dive bars, though (trust me, it’s not a good look) — this is all about enjoying the nuances and subtleties of different types of vodka.
When drunk neat, vodka is most often chilled to smooth out its flavors and remove any harsh notes. But this isn’t essential, especially if you have a really good vodka. Most often, though, you’ll want to cool the vodka down before drinking it. One easy and popular way to do this is to simply put the whole bottle into the freezer, where it won’t freeze due to its high alcohol content. You can pull out the bottle whenever you want to pour out a measure, and it will be nicely chilled.
Another option is to serve the vodka over ice, though this adds water to the spirit as the ice melts. Personally, I prefer to drink vodka this way, but others find the wateriness detracts from the experience, so they prefer to chill the bottle instead. You can sip the vodka gradually to experience its flavors — it’s particularly interesting to try this with vodkas made from different base spirits, such as comparing corn-based vodkas to potato-based vodkas.
Picking the right vodka for you
Even though the vodka is created to simply be the alcohol addition to your favorite cocktail, with no discernible flavor, you shouldn’t grab the first bottle you see on the shelf. While you don’t need to buy a high-end, premium expression, you definitely shouldn’t head toward the bottom shelf. You’ll regret it when your cocktail has unnecessarily harsh heat. A middle-of-the-road bottle of vodka works well for mixing.
