Vodka Drinks Page

Vodka

Vodka has humility. By law, vodkas produced in the United States must be colorless, tasteless, and odorless. Because of its purity, vodka will graciously assume the characteristics of whatever it is mixed with. It is this mixability that has made vodka the most popular distilled spirit of all. The Bloody Mary and Screwdriver have been perennial favorites, and vodka based specialty drinks, such as the White and Black Russian, Cape Codder, and Seabreeze repeatedly make the top ten list. Vodka has even established itself in a number of traditional gin drinks: Vodka and Tonic, Vodka Martini, and the Vodka Collins.

Vodka means "little water", a diminutive of the Russian word for water, voda. It is commonly believed that the spirit originated in Russia sometime in the 14th century. In the days of the czars, Russion vodka was made from potatoes, whereas today's version is made from grain. Vodka was introduced in the United States during the 1930s and, in this country, is made from pure grain neutral spirits distilled from fermented corn, rye, or wheat. The higher the proof, the less the flavor. Vodka is also filtered through charcoal to remove any remaining hint of flavor. Gordon's Vodka, produced and bottled domestically, is the third-largest brand in the United States. Tanqueray Sterling is imported from England and packaged in a frosted bottle that is twin to its sister gin brand.

There are also specialty vodkas that are flavored with lemon, lime, or other fruit, mint, pepper, and even buffalo grass. Flavored vodkas, especially lemon, are particularly appealing to consumers looking for lighter-tasting mixed drinks. Gordon's Citrus and Tanqueray Sterling Citrus are popular either taken straight and icy cold as an apertif or mixed with juices or tonic water. Gordon's Pepper Vodka is a perfect base for a spicey Bloody Mary.

Alfie Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Aqueduct

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Add a twist of orange peel.

Banana Punch

Pour into collins glass filled with crushed ice. Add club soda and top with slices of banana and sprigs of mint.

Beer Buster

Put vodka into highball glass and fill with beer or ale. Add Tabasco sauce and stir lightly.

Bikini

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Black Magic

Stir and serve in old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add a twist of lemon peel.

Black Russian

Pour over ice cubes into old-fashioned glass.

Bloody Bull

Add all ingredients in highball glass over ice. Stir, and add a squeeze of lemon and a slice of lime.

Bloody Mary

Shake with ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. A wedge of lime may be added.

Blue Lagoon

Pour first 2 ingredients over ice in highball glass. Fill with lemonade. Garnish with a cherry.

Blue Monday Cocktail

Stir with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Bolshoi Punch

Shake and pour over ice in old-fashioned glass.

Boston Gold

Pour vodka and banana liqueur over ice cubes in highball glass. Fill with orange juice and stir.

Bull Frog

Pour over ice in collins glass and garnish with a slice of lime.

Bull Shot

Shake with cracked ice and strain into old-fashioned glass.

Cape Codder

Pour into highball glass over ice. Stir well. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Cappuccino Cocktail

Shake well with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Caribbean Cruise

Shake all ingredients except juice with ice and pour into collins glass filled with ice. Fill with pineapple juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.

Casco Bay Lemonade

Shake vodka, sour mix, and cranberry juice. Pour into collins glass filled with ice. Add lemon-lime soda. Float a lemon slice on top.

Citronella Cooler

Pour over ice in collins glass and top with a squeeze of fresh lime.

Clamato Coccktail

Shake with ice and strain into highball glass over ice cubes.

Crocodile Cooler

Place first four ingredients in parfait or hurricane glass filled with ice cubes. Fill with soda and stir well. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry or lime wheel. Serve with a straw.

Desert Sunrise

Pour over crushed ice in collins glass. Top with grenadine.

Electric Jam

Pour over ice into collins glass and stir.

French Martini

Pour over ice in mixing glass. Stir with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Frisky Witch

Pour over ice in old-fashioned glass and stir. Garnish with a black licorice stick.

Gables Collins

Shake with ice and strain into collins glass over ice cubes. Fill with club soda. Decorate with a slice of lemon and a pineapple chunk.

Gentle Ben

Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into collins glass over ice cubes. Fill with orange juice and stir. Decorate with an orange slice and a cherry.

Georgia Peach

Pour first 3 ingredients into ice-filled collins glass. Fill with lemonade.

Glass Tower

Pour ingredients into ice-filled collins glass. Fill with lemon-lime soda and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Godchild

Shake well with cracked ice and strain into champagne flute.

Godmother

Serve in old-fashioned glass over ice.

Handball Cooler

Pour vodka into highball glass filled with ice. Fill almost to top with club soda. Top with orange juice and garnish with a lime wedge.

Harvey Wallbanger

Pour vodka and orange juice into collins glass filled with ice cubes. Stir and float Galliano on top.

Headless Horseman

Pour into collins glass and add several ice cubes. Fill with ginger ale and stir. Decorate with a slice of orange.

Huntsman Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Italian Screwdriver

Mix and pour over ice into sugar-rimmed hurricane or parfait glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Jericho's Breeze

Combine ingredients in shaker and shake with ice until frothy. Strain into stemmed goblet and garnish with a pineapple spear and a cherry.

Jungle Juice

Pour over ice into collins glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Kangaroo Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Serve with a twist of lemon peel.

Kretchma Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

L.A. Sunrise

Pour all ingredients except run into hurricane or parfait glass filled with ice cubes. Float rum on top, garnish with a lime wheel and a cherry.

Long Island Tea

Combine ingredients and pour over ice in highball glass. Add cola for color and garnish with slice of lemon.

Madras

Pour into highball glass over ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Moscow Mule

Pour vodka and lime juice into coffee mug. Add ice cubes and fill with ginger beer. Drop lime wedge in mug for decoration.

Naked Pretzel

Stir and pour over ice in old-fashioned glass.

Nijinski Blini

Pour into champagne flute and stir gently.

Ninotchka Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Orang-A-Tang

Lightly blend all ingredients except rum. Strain into large snifter 1/2 filled with ice cubes. Float rum on top. Garnish with tropical fruits.

Pavlova Supreme

Mix in red-wine glass filled with crushed ice.

Pink Lemonade

Shake and pour into ice-filled collins glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Pink Pussy Cat

Pour vodka into highball glass filled with ice. Fill with juice. Add grenadine for color and stir.

Polynesian Cocktail

Rub rim of cocktail glass with lime and dip into powdered sugar. Shake ingredients wth ice and strain into the prepared glass.

Purple Mask

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Purple Passion

Chill, stir, add sugar to taste, and serve in collins glass.

Purple Passion Tea

Pour into highball glass with ice, stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Red Apple

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Robin's Nest

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Russian Bear Cocktail

Stir wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Russian Cocktail

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Sam-Tini

Pour over ice in mixing glass. Stir and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

Screwdriver

Pour into highball glass over ice cubes. Stir well.

Seabreeze

Pour into highball glass over ice cubes. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Shalom

Shake wth ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add an orange slice.

Siberian Sleighride

Shake wth ice and strain into snifter. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Sino-Soviet Split

Combine vodka and amaretto over ice in old-fashioned glass. Fill with milk or cream.

Sonic Blaster

Shake and pour over ice into collins glass. Garnish with orange and lime slices.

Soviet

Shake wth ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add a twist of lemon peel.

Sputnik

Mix all ingredients in shaker. Add ice, shake until frothy, and pour into stemmed goblet. Garnish with slice of fresh peach.

Stockholm 75

Shake vodka, syrup, and juice with ice. Strain into oversized cocktail glass with sugared rim. Fill with champagne.

Stupid Cupid

Pour into mixing glass with crushed ice. Stir and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Surf Rider

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Sweet Maria

Shake wth cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Top Banana

Shake wth ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes.

Tropical Iced Tea

Combine all ingredients in mixing glass and pour over ice in collins glass. Garnish with seasonal fruits.

Twister

Pour vodka and lime into collins glass. Add several ice cubes and drop a lime twist into glass. Fill with lemon soda and stir.

Velvet Hammer

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Velvet Peach Hammer

Pour vodka and schnapps over ice into old-fashioned glass. Stir and top with sour mix. Garnish with a slice of fresh peach.

Victory Collins

Shake wth ice and strain into collins glass with ice cubes. Add a slice of orange.

Vodka and Apple Juice

Pour vodka over ice into highball glass. Fill with apple juice and stir.

Vodka Collins

Shake wth ice and strain into collins glass. Add several ices cubes, fill with club soda, and stir. Decorate with slices of lemon and orange and a cherry. Serve with a straw.

Vodka Cooler

In collins glass stir sugar with 2 oz club soda. Fill glass with ice and add vodka. Fill with club soda or ginger ale and stir. Dangle orange or lemon spiral over rim of glass.

Vodka Daisy

Shake wth ice and strain into stein or metal cup. Add ice cubes and decorate with fruits.

Vodka Gimlet

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Vodka Grasshopper

Shake wth ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Vodka on the Rocks

Put 2 or 3 ice cubes in old-fashioned glass and add vodka. Serve with a twist of lemon peel.

Vodka Salty Dog

Pour into highball glass over ice cubes. Stir well.

Vodka 7

Pour lime juice and vodka into collins glass over ice cubes. Drop a twist of lime into glass, fill with lemon-lime soda, and stir.

Vodka Sling

Dissolve sugar in water and lemon. Add vodka. Pour into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes and stir. Add a twist of orange peel.

Vodka Sour

Shake with ice and strain into sour glass. Decorate with a 1/2 slice of lemon and a cherry.

Vodka Stinger

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Vodka and Tonic

Pour vodka into highball glass over ice. Add tonic and stir. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Warsaw Cocktail

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

White Russian

Pour coffee liqueur and vodka in old-fashioned glass over ice cubes and fill with milk or cream.

Last modified: Wed Apr 20 1995