Vodka Vibes: A Selection of Cocktails
National Vodka Day is coming right up! We’ll keep the vodka vibes going with a unique selection of cocktail recipes to share with you. From refreshing fruit-infused mixes to creamy drinks, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself, these cocktails are sure to elevate your celebration. So grab your shaker, and let’s mix up some fun!
- Bramble Smash
Citrus, berries, and vodka sound like the perfect recipe for a refreshingly good time lounging by the pool or relaxing on the rooftop.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½" lemon wedges
- 2 ½" lime wedges
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- 4 blackberries, plus more for garnish
- 4 blueberries, plus more for garnish
- 4 raspberries, plus more for garnish
- ¼ cup vodka
Instructions:
- Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, mash lemon wedges, lime wedges, simple syrup, 4 blackberries, 4 blueberries, and 4 raspberries in a 16-oz. mixing glass or a cocktail shaker 4–5 times just to release juices and oils.
- Add vodka.
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass.
- Fill halfway with crushed ice, stir, then mound more crushed ice on top.
- Garnish with berries.
- Celery and Salted Lemon Cocktail
Who said celery and seafood only belong on the dinner plate? They match so well with vodka too – you’d be pleasantly surprised.
Ingredients:
- 8 large celery stalks, chopped, plus as many leaves as you have
- 2 preserved lemons, seeds removed, chopped, plus 3 Tbsp. brine
- 2 cups vodka
- Chilled club soda (for serving)
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Small Manchego cheese pieces, tinned seafood (such as smoked mussels or clams), lemon wedges, and/or olives (for serving)
Instructions:
- Purée celery stalks and leaves, preserved lemons, brine, and 2 cups cold water in a blender until very smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. (Do not force it; you want to keep any solids from going through. You should have 3–4 cups.) Chill celery mixture at least 20 minutes before using.
- To serve, stir vodka into celery mixture and pour 3–4 oz. into each of 8–10 tall ice-filled glasses (they should be about three fourths full). Top off each cocktail with 1–2 oz. club soda. Thread garnishes of your choice onto skewers and garnish each cocktail with a skewer.
- Wake County Cooler
Got a whole bottle of vodka to spare? We’ve got just the recipe for you! You probably have all these ingredients in your pantry already.
Ingredients:
- 1 750-ml bottle vodka
- ⅔ cup loose-leaf black tea
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- Club soda
- Lemon wedges (for garnish)
- Mint sprigs (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Combine vodka and tea in a large pitcher.
- Let sit at room temperature, stirring occasionally, 2 hours.
- Strain into another large pitcher.
- Combine sugar and ¼ cup water in a jar, cover, and shake until sugar is dissolved; mix into vodka.
- For each cooler, fill a Collins glass with ice.
- Add lemon juice and 2 oz. infused vodka.
- Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge and a mint sprig.
- Green Goddess
Is this a cocktail or green juice? Well, it’s both! Although it’s a cocktail, it feels less guilty because of the amount of greens in it.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces vodka
- 1 teaspoon or 1 bag green tea
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups (packed) baby arugula
- 1 cucumber
- 1 jalapeño, quartered, seeded
- 4 ounces fresh lemon juice
- Mint sprigs (for serving)
Instructions:
- Combine vodka and tea in a jar. Cover and let infuse for 8 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl; discard solids. Cover and chill.
- Bring sugar and ⅓ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, add arugula, and stir until wilted. Cover and let syrup steep for 5 minutes, then strain into a small bowl; discard solids. Cover and chill arugula syrup until cold, at least 1 hour.
- Cut 12 thin slices from cucumber; set aside.
- For each cocktail, finely grate one-fourth of remaining cucumber directly into a cocktail shaker. Add a piece of jalapeño and muddle until chile is broken into small pieces. Add 2 oz. green-tea vodka, 1 oz. arugula syrup, and 1 oz. lemon juice to the shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a Collins glass filled with ice and garnish with mint and 3 reserved cucumber slices.
- Hot White Russian
Vodka cocktails aren’t just for partying. With this cocktail, you can pair it with cookies and enjoy a cozy, lazy day at home.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups freshly brewed coffee
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup coffee-flavored liqueur
- 1/4 cup vodka, or to taste
- Whipped heavy cream for garnish if desired
Instructions:
- In a saucepan stir together the coffee, the 1/2 cup cream, coffee liqueur, and the vodka and heat the mixture over moderate heat until it is hot.
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Divide the mixture among heated mugs and garnish each drink with some of the whipped cream.