Vodka cocktails get a bad rap, largely thanks to the cocktail dark ages of the '80s and '90s when the neutral spirit was paired primarily with pre-fab mixers and sugary liqueurs. But those saccharine days filled with too many flavored options are behind us now. Celebrate vodkaโs return to cocktail glory with these top vodka cocktail recipes that range from fruity to savory to spicy. Just be sure to use high quality modifiers and fresh juice whenever possible.
A simple mix of grapefruit juice and liquor with a citrus twist, the first prototype of what would become the Greyhound was a gin and grapefruit cocktail published in 1930 in the Savoy Cocktail Book. People were likely mixing up grapefruit juice and liquor long before that, but that was the first time it was written into cocktail history. It was Harperโs that swapped in vodka in 1945 and gave the drink its title, and the drink has stayed that way ever since. Foolproof in construction and ultra-refreshing, itโs a perfect, often overlooked brunch cocktail.
The Essentials
Vodka
Grapefruit Juice
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As great as a Greyhound is, thereโs one big improvement that takes the vodka-grapefruit drinkโs deliciousness up to 11: salt. Made with vodka, fresh grapefruit juice and a salted rim, the Salty Dog is at once sweet, sour, bitter and briny. Almost like boozy Gatorade, this sour powerhouse will reinvigorate you after a long day.
The Essentials
grapefruit juice
Vodka
Salt
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The Sea Breeze was originally marketed to drinkers in the 1950s. The Cranberry Growers Association was looking to sell more juice, and one of the opportunities they saw was to link cranberries to cocktails. While the campaign was a flop, the drink itself was, eventually, a success. Some 20 years after the initial push, the Sea Breeze become one of the most popular cocktails of the โ70s thanks to the tasty mix of tart grapefruit juice, tangy cranberry and vodka.
The Essentials
Vodka
Grapefruit Juice
Cranberry Juice
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There isnโt a more perfect expression of vodka than the Vodka Martini. Swapping vodka for gin in Martinis rose in popularity in the โ50s and โ60s, partly driven by Ian Flemingโs 1956 James Bond novel Diamonds are Forever and vodka-loving celebrities like Joan Crawford. Like its gin-based cousin, the quality of the vodka-based variation depends entirely on the quality of its components. That means choosing good vodka and a vermouth with a complementary flavor goes a long way.
The Essentials
Vodka
Dry vermouth
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Like the French Martini, the Espresso Martini may initially seem like a misguided deviation from the two-ingredient classic. But give this caffeinated variation a chance, and youโll quickly find out why itโs worth your time. High-grade coffee liqueur and fresh espresso work wonders with white crรจme de cacao for a silky cocktail that will give you pep and party all in one bittersweet treat.
The Essentials
Vodka
Coffee Liqueur
Espresso
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Another classic dessert-tail, the Chocolate Martini is the best vodka drink for chocolate fanatics and those with a sweet tooth. A mixture of vodka, chocolate liqueur, and half and half, this after dinner drink is the perfect capstone to a decadent meal. For the best results, opt for a richer, creamier chocolate liqueur like Godiva. You wonโt even need to order another, non-boozy dessert.
The Essentials
Chocolate Liqueur
vodka
Half and Half
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Only The Dude could make heavy cream cool. While it was originally invented in the 1950s, this mixture of vodka, cream and Kahlรบa became synonymous with the Coen brothersโ cult classic The Big Lebowski in 1998 thanks to Jeff Bridgesโs beloved, be-robed character who was never far from a White Russian. The Dude abides, and so does vodka.
The Essentials
Vodka
Coffee Liqueur
Heavy Cream
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If thereโs one spirit that can give rum a run for best tropical fruit pairing, itโs vodka. This take on a Piรฑa Colada swaps in vodka for rum, but leaves the Puerto Rican classic otherwise intact, letting the fruit shine through. The ease of vodka meets the ease of the blender in this bright, fruity drink.
The Essentials
vodka
coconut cream
pineapple juice
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This 1980s drink is an essential vodka cocktail with a somewhat embarrassing name. According to legend, the name was coined by a Florida bartender named Ted who listed two reasons teenagers came to Florida for Spring Break: the beach and sex. The good news is, you donโt have to say it out loud if youโre making one for yourself at home. And it is certainly worth making. Itโs fruity, vibrant and just boozy enough thanks to ever reliable vodka. Opt for fresh orange and cranberry juices, and use good quality peach schnapps to avoid slurping a syrupy mess.
The Essentials
Vodka
Peach Schnapps
Orange Juice
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Before Sex and the City fame transformed the Cosmo into a ubiquitous, syrupy, sugar-rimmed disaster, it was actually a really great drink. In fact, itโs part of the reason the cocktail revolution near the end of the โ90s happened at all. Invented at The Odeon in New York in 1987, the Cosmopolitanโs mix of vodka, Cointreau and fresh cranberry juice is balanced and refreshing. As it grew in popularity, cheaper and sweeter ingredients were subbed in. If you make it the right way, though, youโll understand why the Cosmopolitan rocketed to popularity.
The Essentials
Citrus Vodka
Cointreau
Cranberry Juice
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The unapologetically fun Midori Sour delivers booze in a party-ready, neon-green package. Itโs sweet, sour and full of whimsy. Thereโs really nothing more you could ask for, except maybe another.
The Essentials
Midori
Vodka
Fresh Lemon Juice
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This long, spicy glass of vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire and Tabasco is a brunchtime favorite. Itโs endlessly customizable (and some people take that too far), but at itโs best, itโs a perfectly delightful cocktail. The Bloody Maryโs bold flavors jolt you awake and open your sinuses, helping you greet the light of dayโor maybe just get you through that omelet.
The Essentials
Vodka
Tomato Juice
Worcestershire Sauce
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The Bloody Maryโs seafaring neighbor from the North swaps out plain old tomato juice for Clamato juice, a mixture of tomato and clam broth. Invented in Canada, the Clamato brings an oddly satisfying sea funk to the whole equation. Canadians celebrate the unofficial national drink on National Caesar Day every May.
The Essentials
vodka
clamato juice
worcestershire sauce
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Part of the alt-Martini wave of the 1980s, the French Martini is a fruity, black raspberry-flavored take on the classic dry cocktail. Itโs a delightful drink with less alcohol than a true Martini, and the โtini variation of choice for day drinking. Plus, its red hue adds a splash of color to any party.
The Essentials
Vodka
Pineapple Juice
Chambord
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The Moscow Mule is proof that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. The spicy, spritzy cocktail was born out of a glut of both vodka and ginger beer during World War II. With the addition of a little bit of lime juice and a nifty copper mug, a great libation was born. While the copper vessel isnโt absolutely necessary when it comes to mixing up the cocktail, it definitely makes the simple drink more fun.
The Essentials
Vodka
Lime Juice
Ginger Beer
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If you find your vodka lacks a little flavor or your orange juice lacks a lot of anything to make it worth drinking, then join the ranks of lazy drinkers everywhere and combine them into the simple yet satisfying Screwdriver. One origin story claims oil rig workers first mixed the drink with literal screwdrivers. We wouldnโt suggest any such bare-bones methodology, but this easy combination will no doubt make your breakfast even better.
The Essentials
orange juice
vodka
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Similar to the Screwdriver, the Harvey Wallbanger mixes orange juice with vodka. But, unlike its citrusy cousin, the drink also includes Galliano, a vanilla liqueur spiced with anise. The ultimate โ70s cocktail, this orangey banger of a drink is groovier than the black light poster in your dadโs old shagginโ wagon. To make the cocktail more pleasing to the modern palate, use fresh orange juice rather than juice from concentrate. The cocktail is bright with tangy vanilla notes, just like an orange creamsicle.
The Essentials
vodka
orange juice
Galliano
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There is no vodka cocktail more iconic or well known than this quintessential Highball. With just two ingredients, this refreshing libation is easy for anyone to make, no matter how inexperienced they are behind the bar. And, like the Bloody Mary, the drink can be garnished with an infinite amount of ingredients. Two of our favorite unexpected garnishes are fresh sage leavesโwhich add a savory butteriness to the clean vodkaโand cucumbers, which add more and more flavor to the cocktail the longer they sit.
The Essentials
Vodka
soda
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Lychee, that crazy looking Asian fruit that tastes like Riesling, makes this Martini extraordinary. Often found at Asian fusion restaurants, this fruity Martini variation is the perfect accompaniment to spicy, thirst-inducing food. Bright, tropical and floral, the Lychee Martini is one of the best fruit-forward Martini variations.
The Essentials
Vodka
Lychee syrup
Vermouth
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If a White Russian was even more of a dessert, it would be a Mudslide. With vodka, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream and Irish cream (in lieu of straight cream), the Mudslide is the quintessential boozy milkshake.
The Essentials
vodka
Kahlua
vanilla ice cream
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