Vodka Cocktails

132 recipes

Vodka is the workhorse of the home bar. Because it brings clean alcohol rather than a strong flavor of its own, it mixes with almost anything: citrus, coffee, ginger beer, tomato juice, cranberry. That range shows in this collection of 132 vodka cocktails, which runs from a two-ingredient Screwdriver to the Espresso Martini.

Start with the classics: the Moscow Mule (vodka, lime, ginger beer), the Cosmopolitan, the Black Russian and the Bloody Mary. Every recipe lists exact measures, step-by-step instructions, ABV and calories, and the Pocket Bartender app can tell you which of these you can already make with the bottles you have at home.

VodkaBellini MartiniThree ounces of vodka shaken with peach schnapps and peach nectar, finished with a lemon twist. The brunch classic rebuilt as a serious martini.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaBlack RussianVodka and coffee liqueur stirred over ice in a rocks glass — the two-ingredient template for countless coffee cocktails. Dark, sweet and quietly…Easy2 ingredientsVodkaBloody MaryVodka rolled with tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire and Tabasco, seasoned to taste and garnished with celery. The definitive savory cocktail and…Easy7 ingredientsVodkaCosmopolitanCitrus vodka shaken with Cointreau, fresh lime and just enough cranberry to blush. The definitive 90s martini-glass icon, still crisp today.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaDirty MartiniVodka and dry vermouth shaken with a generous splash of olive brine, finished with an olive. Savory, saline and unapologetically briny.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaEspresso MartiniVodka shaken hard with Kahlua, fresh espresso and a touch of syrup until a dense crema forms, garnished with three beans. The cocktail that wakes you…Easy4 ingredientsVodkaFrench MartiniVodka shaken with raspberry liqueur and a splash of pineapple until silky-foamed, finished with lemon oil. Velvety, fruity and quietly potent.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaHarvey WallbangerA vodka-orange screwdriver crowned with a float of vanilla-herbal Galliano. A kitschy 1970s icon that still goes down easy.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaKamikazeEqual parts vodka, triple sec and lime juice shaken ice-cold. Sharp, citrusy and equally at home as a cocktail or a round of shots.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaLemon Drop MartiniVodka shaken with triple sec and fresh lemon, served up in a sugar-rimmed glass. Candied citrus in front, a firm vodka spine behind.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaLong Island Iced TeaVodka, gin, rum, tequila and Cointreau with lemon and syrup under a cola top. Five spirits impersonating an innocent glass of iced tea.Easy9 ingredientsVodkaMoscow MuleVodka and fresh lime lengthened with spicy ginger beer, traditionally served in a frosty copper mug. Zingy, effervescent and ready in moments.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaPorn star martiniVanilla vodka shaken with passion fruit liqueur, puree and vanilla sugar, served with a champagne sidecar. The IBA's official take on the modern…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaRussian Spring PunchVodka, cassis, lemon and syrup shaken tall over ice and topped with sparkling wine. Berry-bright fizz with a cool Eastern accent.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaScrewdriverVodka and orange juice over ice — the ultimate two-ingredient brunch drink. Bright, juicy and impossible to get wrong.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaSea breezeVodka built with cranberry and a splash of grapefruit over ice, garnished with lime. Tart, rosy and made for warm evenings.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaSex on the BeachVodka and peach schnapps built with orange and cranberry juices over ice. The quintessential fruity beach-bar highball.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaSpicy FiftyVanilla vodka shaken with elderflower, lime, honey and slices of red chili, double-strained and garnished with a pepper. Sweet heat with London bar…Medium5 ingredientsVodkaVesperGin and vodka shaken with Lillet Blanc and finished with a thin lemon peel — ordered into legend by James Bond. Cold, dry and lethally smooth.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaA Gilligan's IslandVodka and peach schnapps shaken with orange and cranberry juices. A castaway-friendly cousin of sex on the beach.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaA midsummernight dreamBlended strawberries shaken with vodka, kirschwasser and strawberry liqueur, then lengthened with Schweppes Russchian. Berry-laden and quietly strong.Medium5 ingredientsVodkaA.D.M. (After Dinner Mint)Vodka, white creme de menthe and Southern Comfort shaken into hot chocolate. Dessert and digestif in one steaming mug.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAbsinthe #2A homemade absinthe-style infusion of wormwood, licorice root and anise steeped in vodka for several days, then filtered and served diluted with iced…Hard5 ingredientsVodkaAbsolut EvergreenCitrus vodka and green Pisang Ambon topped with bitter lemon over ice. Banana-tinged, citrus-edged and vividly green.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAbsolut limousineCitrus vodka and a heavy pour of lime juice topped with tonic over ice and lime wedges. Sharply sour and bracingly crisp.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAbsolut SexAbsolut Kurant and Midori shaken with cranberry, splashed with Sprite in a rocks glass. Berry and melon in a short, flirty pour.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAbsolut Stress #2Absolut with peach schnapps and coconut liqueur, shaken with cranberry and pineapple. Stress relief by way of the tropics.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaAbsolut SummertimeCitrus vodka shaken with sweet-and-sour and a touch of Sprite, lengthened with soda over ice. Light, lemony and made for hot days.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaAbsolutely Cranberry SmashAbsolut stirred with cranberry juice and ginger ale over ice. A brisk, berry-bright cooler with a gingery sparkle.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAbsolutely FabulousVodka and cranberry shaken and topped with champagne. Sweetie, darling — brunch just got interesting.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAbsolutly Screwed UpCitrus vodka, triple sec and orange juice shaken and topped with ginger ale. Bright, fizzy and easier-going than the name warns.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAdam BombRum, vodka, tequila and triple sec blended with fruit and juice, served in a sugar- or salt-rimmed glass. A frozen four-spirit blast with a fruit…Medium8 ingredientsVodkaAdam SunriseVodka blended with lemonade concentrate, sugar and a blender full of ice into a stiff frozen lemonade. Sweet, icy and stronger than it tastes.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAddison SpecialVodka shaken with orange juice and a tablespoon of grenadine, served over ice with cherry and orange. A rosier, shaken screwdriver.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAfter sexVodka and creme de banane over ice, filled with orange juice and optionally rimmed with grenadine sugar. Light, fruity and unhurried.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAlfie CocktailLemon vodka sharpened with a spoon of pineapple juice and a dash of triple sec, shaken and served up. Clean, citrus-led and briskly strong.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAngelica LiqueurAngelica root, anise, almonds and warm spices steeped in vodka for two weeks, then sweetened and matured. An old-world herbal cordial for patient…Hard12 ingredientsVodkaApricot punchFour bottles of champagne with vodka, apricot brandy, orange juice and 7-Up over ice and orange segments. A sparkling apricot bowl built for big…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaArctic FishVodka, grape soda and orange juice poured unstirred over ice with a candy fish swimming in it. Silly, sweet and served very cold.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaArizona AntifreezeMidori, vodka and sweet-and-sour in equal thirds, slammed cold. Neon green and gone in a second.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaArizona StingersTwo heaping shots of Absolut stirred into lemon Arizona iced tea over ice in a hurricane glass. Front-porch tea with a hidden stinger.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaArizona TwisterMalibu, gold tequila and vodka over crushed ice with pineapple, orange, coconut cream and a grenadine dash. A desert take on tropical excess.Easy9 ingredientsVodkaArmy specialGin and vodka over lime cordial and crushed ice, sipped as the ice melts in. A regimented, no-nonsense gimlet relative.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaAT&TAn ounce each of Absolut and gin lengthened with tonic over ice. A double-spirit G&T with a clean, dry finish.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAtlantic SunVodka and Southern Comfort shaken with sweet-and-sour and passion fruit syrup, topped with a dash of soda. A sunny, tropical-tinged sipper with an…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaAtomic LokadeVodka, blue curacao and triple sec shaken with lemonade into an electric-blue cooler. Sweet, citrusy and glowing.Easy6 ingredientsVodkaAutodaféVodka with a dash of lime topped with soda water — a Finnish sunny-day standby. Clean, dry and unfussy.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaAvalonVodka layered with apple and lemon juices, Pisang Ambon and a lemonade top, garnished with spiralled cucumber. A prize-winning long drink, crisp and…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaAztec PunchRum and vodka mixed into lemonade and ginger ale by the pitcher. An unpretentious party punch that earns its warning label.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaBelgian BlueVodka, coconut liqueur and blue curacao stirred with Sprite into a bright azure cooler. Sweet, coconut-kissed and very easygoing.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaBlack Forest ShakeVodka and cherry brandy blended with chocolate syrup, milk and ice. The famous cake reimagined as a frosty shake.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaBloody PunchMashed strawberries, lime and lemon-lime soda spiked with ten shots of vodka, with blueberries and raisins floating like bugs. Gruesome-looking…Medium6 ingredientsVodkaBloody Vampire Kiss MartiniVodka shaken with Chambord and cranberry, strained into a glass dripping with a red corn-syrup rim. Berry-dark, theatrical and stronger than it looks.Medium5 ingredientsVodkaBlue LagoonVodka and blue curacao topped with lemonade over ice for a vividly turquoise tall drink. Citrusy, sweet and pure poolside fun.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaBlue MountainAñejo rum and Tia Maria shaken with vodka, orange and lemon juices, served over ice. Named for Jamaica's coffee-growing peaks, it balances citrus…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaBlueberry Lemonade VodkaA quick homemade blueberry syrup shaken with vodka and lemonade, topped with club soda and mint. Farm-stand flavor with a modest kick.Medium10 ingredientsVodkaBomb popGrenadine, vodka lemonade and blue-tinted vodka layered over ice into red, white and blue stripes. The popsicle of summers past, rebuilt for adults.Hard5 ingredientsVodkaBrain FartEverclear, vodka and rum stirred gently into liters of Surge and Mountain Dew with lemon juice, over ice in a punch bowl. Citrus soda with a hidden…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaBruised HeartChambord, peach schnapps, vodka and cranberry stirred over ice and strained into a shot. Berry-sweet with a soft purple ache.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaBubble GumPeach schnapps, vodka, banana liqueur and orange juice layered in quarters. Together they land uncannily close to pink bubble gum.Medium4 ingredientsVodkaButter BabyVodka and butterscotch schnapps blended with vanilla ice cream and milk, served in a chilled mug with blueberries and caramel. A butterscotch sundae…Easy4 ingredientsVodkaButterfly EffectRaspberry vodka shaken with cranberry, blue curacao, lime and syrup, lengthened with lemonade in a hurricane glass. Small pours, big color shift.Easy7 ingredientsVodkaCaribbean Orange LiqueurThin-pared orange rind steeped in vodka until fragrant, then married with superfine sugar. A bright homemade triple sec for your cocktail shelf.Medium3 ingredientsVodkaCherry Electric LemonadeFour white spirits with triple sec, sweet-and-sour and cherry grenadine, stirred hard over a big cup of ice with a soda top. A Long Island cousin in…Easy8 ingredientsVodkaChocolate Black RussianChocolate ice cream blended briefly with Kahlua and vodka and poured into a flute. A boozy milkshake that leans firmly into dessert territory.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaCoffee LiqueurInstant coffee simmered with sugar for an hour, then blended with vodka and vanilla and aged in a sealed jar. A patient project that pays off in…Medium5 ingredientsVodkaCoffee-VodkaA vanilla-bean coffee cordial of sugar syrup, instant coffee and vodka, shaken daily for three weeks before filtering. Sweet, roasty and worth the…Medium6 ingredientsVodkaCosmopolitan MartiniVodka and Cointreau shaken with fresh lime and just a splash of cranberry. A drier, lime-forward take on the famous pink martini.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaCreamy biscoff cocktailMelted Biscoff cookie butter shaken with Baileys Almande, rum, vodka, milk and warm spices over ice. Speculoos spread turned fully drinkable.Medium9 ingredientsVodkaDead Man’s PotionBlack vodka and coffee liqueur lurk under a dark shimmer of cola, with optional charcoal or glitter for full Halloween effect. Sweet, roasty and…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaDisaronno Velvet Espresso Martini CocktailDisaronno Velvet shaken ice-cold with vodka and coffee liqueur, garnished with chocolate or coffee beans. A creamy, almond-laced spin on the espresso…Easy4 ingredientsVodkaFahrenheit 5000Tabasco under equal parts cinnamon Firewater and pepper vodka. A scorched-earth shot for heat seekers only.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaFiggy ThymeFresh figs and thyme muddled, shaken with honeyed vodka and lemon, then topped with tonic over crushed ice. An orchard-and-herb original with real…Medium6 ingredientsVodkaFlaming Dr. PepperAmaretto, vodka and 151 rum met with Dr. Pepper and beer — the bomb-shot legend that really does taste like the soda. Handle the flaming version with…Medium5 ingredientsVodkaFreddy KrugerVodka, Sambuca and Jagermeister in one ample shot. Herbal, anise-dark and every bit as menacing as the name.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaFruit SmashFresh berries or citrus muddled with sugar, shaken with vodka or gin and topped with soda. A flexible template for whatever fruit the season offers.Medium5 ingredientsVodkaGagliardoPeach vodka shaken with lemon juice, Galliano and a part of rose syrup — a house creation from a Pavia bar. Floral, peachy and tart in equal measure.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaGideon's Green DinosaurFive half-ounce spirits stirred tall with a fill of Mountain Dew. Electric green, caffeinated and stronger than it tastes.Easy6 ingredientsVodkaGodchildVodka, amaretto and heavy cream shaken over cracked ice and strained into a flute. A silky almond-cream treat from the Godfather family.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaGodmotherVodka takes the Scotch's place beside amaretto in this two-ingredient rocks drink. Cleaner and softer than the Godfather, with the same nutty warmth.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaGreyhoundVodka topped with grapefruit juice over ice in a collins glass. Tart, dry and effortlessly refreshing — salt the rim and it becomes a Salty Dog.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaHalloween PunchCherry juice simmered with chili, ginger, cloves and orange peel, chilled long and spiked with vodka. A moody, spiced party bowl that improves with…Medium6 ingredientsVodkaHomemade KahluaSugar, corn syrup and instant coffee dissolved into syrup, married with a fifth of vodka and vanilla, then matured for a month. Patience in a gallon…Medium6 ingredientsVodkaIce PickVodka stirred into cold iced tea with lemon to taste. The simplest possible spiked tea, crisp and unassuming.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaIrish Curdling CowBaileys, vodka and bourbon over ice with orange juice stirred in. The citrus flirts with curdling the cream — hence the name.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaIrish RussianVodka and Kahlua under a careful fill of Guinness and a dash of Coke, no ice. A Black Russian dressed in stout.Medium4 ingredientsVodkaJello shotsJello dissolved in boiling water, spiked with two cups of vodka and set firm in plastic shot cups. The chewable party classic — make them ahead.Medium3 ingredientsVodkaJitterbugGin and vodka built over ice with lime, dashes of grenadine and syrup, topped with soda in a sugar-rimmed glass. A fizzy, faintly rosy double-spirit…Easy7 ingredientsVodkaKiss me QuickCranberry vodka and Apfelkorn stirred with apple juice and Schweppes Russchian over ice. Orchard fruit with a rosy fizz.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaKiwi MartiniFresh kiwi muddled with syrup and shaken with vodka into a seed-flecked green martini. One of the easiest fresh-fruit cocktails there is.Medium4 ingredientsVodkaKool-Aid ShotVodka, amaretto, triple sec and sloe gin stirred with cranberry over ice. Tastes uncannily like the childhood drink it's named for — with none of the…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaKool-Aid SlammerGrape Kool-Aid layered under vodka in a shot glass, slammed so the juice is the last thing you taste. Playground flavor, barroom delivery.Medium2 ingredientsVodkaKurant TeaAbsolut Kurant stirred into warm Turkish apple tea, sweetened if you like. A cozy blackcurrant toddy without the fuss.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaLemon DropVodka and Cointreau shaken with fresh lemon and strained into a sugar-rimmed glass. Candy-bright on the rim, seriously strong underneath.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaLemon Elderflower SpritzerVodka with elderflower cordial, fresh lemon and soda stirred over ice. Light, floral and done before the kettle boils.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaLemon ShotGalliano and citrus vodka in a shot glass, capped with a sugared lemon wedge doused in 151 rum and briefly set alight. Done right, it goes down like…Hard5 ingredientsVodkaLong Island TeaRum, gin, vodka, tequila and lemon stacked in a highball with just a splash of cola for its tea-like color. Deceptively smooth for a drink built…Easy6 ingredientsVodkaLong vodkaA tall glass swirled with Angostura, then filled with vodka, fresh lime and tonic. A Scottish bar-call classic with a rosy bitter edge.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaMidnight KissVodka and blue curacao shaken with a touch of lemon, then topped with champagne in a chilled glass. A sparkling, sapphire-toned toast for late…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaMoscow LassiMuddled cucumber shaken with vodka, mango puree, yoghurt and cloudy apple juice. A cocktail-lassi hybrid — cooling, creamy and quietly clever.Medium6 ingredientsVodkaNational AquariumRum, vodka, gin and blue curacao shaken with sour mix and a splash of lemon-lime soda. An aquarium-blue crowd-pleaser served on the rocks.Easy6 ingredientsVodkaNew York LemonadeCitrus vodka and Grand Marnier shaken with sweetened lemon juice and a splash of soda, served up in a sugared glass. Big-city lemonade with real…Easy4 ingredientsVodkaOrange CrushVodka, triple sec and orange juice in equal parts, poured as a shot. Orange soda flavor with a real kick.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaOrange WhipRum and vodka stirred with orange juice and cream over ice — the creamsicle cocktail immortalized by The Blues Brothers. Who wants an Orange Whip?Easy5 ingredientsVodkaOreo MudslideVodka, Kahlua and Baileys blended with vanilla ice cream and an Oreo, crowned with whipped cream and a cherry. Milkshake decadence with a grown-up…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaOrgasmAmaretto, triple sec, vodka and creme de cacao shaken with cream into a notorious dessert cocktail. Silky, nutty and sweet enough to earn its…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaPassion Fruit MartiniVodka and sugar syrup stirred with a full glass of passion fruit juice, garnished with half a passion fruit. Tropical tang with a gentle kick.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaPink Panty PulldownsTwo cups of vodka shaken into a liter of Sprite and pink lemonade. A notorious party pitcher that tastes far more innocent than it is.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaPink PenochaEverclear, vodka and peach schnapps stirred into gallons of cranberry and orange juice, kept iced. A pink party bowl with real muscle beneath the…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaPopped cherryVodka and cherry liqueur built tall with orange and cranberry juices over ice, cherry on top. Juicy, playful and easygoing.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaPornstar MartiniVodka and Passoa shaken with passion fruit and lime, served with a chilled shot of prosecco on the side. The modern bar call that needs no…Easy5 ingredientsVodkaQueen BeeLime vodka shaken with coffee brandy and a touch of cream sherry. An unusual, honeyed mix of citrus, roast and nut.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaRadioactive Long Island Iced TeaEight full ounces of spirits and liqueurs — from tequila to Chambord to Midori — over ice in a very tall glass. Sip cautiously; the name is fair…Easy8 ingredientsVodkaRaspberry CoolerRaspberry vodka stirred with lemon-lime soda over plenty of ice. A two-ingredient berry spritz for hot days.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaRum ChataRumChata shaken with vanilla vodka and strained over ice under a dusting of cinnamon. Horchata's boozy, dessert-ready double.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaSan FranciscoVodka and banana liqueur built tall with orange juice, with grenadine trickled down the side to settle at the base. A sunset in a glass, garnished…Easy4 ingredientsVodkaScreaming OrgasmVodka, Baileys and Kahlua stirred over crushed ice — richer and louder than its namesake. Quality vodka matters here to keep the cream from curdling.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaShark AttackA pitcher of lemonade from concentrate fortified with a cup and a half of vodka, served over crushed ice. Simple, icy and quietly predatory.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaSnowdayVodka stirred with Amaro Montenegro, ruby port, blood orange and bitters, finished with expressed orange peel. A cozy, amaro-laced sipper for cold…Easy6 ingredientsVodkaSoly Dulaw CocktailVodka shaken with passion fruit puree, lime, syrup and passion-flower bitters, finished with a citrus twist. Bright tropical tang in a neat coupe.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaSunset CoolerVodka shaken with orange juice, topped with soda and a slow grenadine pour that settles into dusk-colored layers. Easy drinking with a view.Easy6 ingredientsVodkaVictory CollinsVodka shaken with equal big pours of lemon juice and unsweetened grape juice, sweetened lightly and served tall. Tart, vivid and quenching.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaVodka And TonicVodka lengthened with tonic water over ice — the cleanest possible canvas for quinine's crisp bite. Simple, cold and reliable.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaVodka FizzVodka blended with limeade and half-and-half, poured into a wine glass under grated nutmeg. A creamy, citrusy curiosity that works.Easy5 ingredientsVodkaVodka LemonVodka and a big pour of lemon juice stirred in a highball with a lemon slice and optional mint. Bracing citrus with nothing to hide behind.Easy4 ingredientsVodkaVodka MartiniVodka shaken with dry vermouth and strained up with an olive. The cleaner, quieter sibling of the gin martini.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaVodka RussianVodka topped with Schweppes Russchian over ice. A dry, blush-pink highball of minimal effort and easy charm.Easy2 ingredientsVodkaVodka SlimeVodka and Sprite finished with a half-shot of lime juice over ice. A green-tinged, no-effort refresher.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaVodka TonicVodka topped with tonic over fresh ice, finished with a squeezed lime wedge. The recipe for happiness, as its fans insist.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaWhite RussianVodka and coffee liqueur over ice, finished with a float of light cream. A plush, dessert-leaning classic immortalized by The Big Lebowski.Easy3 ingredientsVodkaZipperheadChambord layered under vodka and topped with soda over ice, straw in first. Raspberry rising through every sip.Medium3 ingredientsVodkaZorbatiniA martini built on Stolichnaya with a quarter-ounce of ouzo in place of vermouth, garnished with a green olive. Greek anise over icy vodka.Easy2 ingredients

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