Vodka-based cocktails: the drink recipes that every fan should know and make

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Vodka-based cocktails are among the most famous and iconic, those most in-demand and enjoying great popularity. Think about the great classic drinks like Moscow Mule, Sex on the Beach, Caipiroska, Salty Dog, Vodka Martini, Screwdriver, Black Russian and White, Vodka Sour, Godmother, Espresso Martini, Kamikaze, Cosmopolitan, Apple Martini, Bloody Mary: what do these drinks have in common besides vodka?

They are all fairly simple cocktails but made with few ingredients and their flavor is direct, strong and decisive. Even the Bloody seems full of ingredients, but it is a seasoned tomato juice, conceptually they are seasonings for the tomato to which vodka is added to give strength.

There are not many cocktails with vermouth, indeed vodka tends to find its maximum expression when combined with fruit juices and purees. As is natural: vodka does not have much flavor, it is practically neutral, yet it manages to amplify the aromatic power of fruit. It expands fruit flavors without adding resinous or smoked or exotic suggestions. And for this reason, it is a unique, ductile distillate that finds space in a thousand preparations: from the most spartan aperitif cocktails like Vodka Tonic to fine after-dinners like Godmother and White Russian.

Ok, let’s start with the list of the greatest vodka-based cocktails that every fan should know. And if you still don’t know how to make a specific cocktail, don’t worry, there are also all the recipes with doses, ingredients, and tips.

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule is a great aperitif, the most appreciated cocktail in the world and the reason is very simple. In its simplicity (vodka, lime and ginger beer) it contains a sharp and pungent flavor thanks to the lime-ginger combination-clash. Not too heavy and very drinkable: it is a cocktail to drink at any time of day. The Moscow Mule recipe.

Vodka Tonic

The less noble and hipster cousin of gin and tonic is a drink that has few rivals when it comes to thirst-quenching cocktails, thanks to the dry, bitter and sour taste. It is made directly in the glass with lots of ice. Vodka, lime and tonic water are the triad of perfect flavor. The Vodka Tonic recipe.

Sex On The Beach cocktail

After the Moscow Mule is the most famous and requested vodka cocktail, thanks to the incredible fruity flavor full of tropical nuances. The ingredients: vodka, orange and cranberry juices to give freshness and peach schnapps to finish with a touch of sweetness. Few cocktails are so balanced. The Sex on the Beach recipe.

Cosmopolitan

Another historic American cocktail, all played on citrus tones. Still, vodka and cranberry to form a phenomenal pair, sharp, but with the flavor of the burnt orange peel of the triple sec to act as a sweetener. The lime adds aromatic depth and the base from which the cocktail takes flight. The Cosmo recipe.

Caipiroska

The queen of exotic muddled drinks. You can create your favorite cocktail in a few seconds just adding chunks of fruit. Maracuja or wild berries, watermelon, and mint are all delicious drinks, as long as there is fresh fruit and you will make a masterpiece. Lime and sugar in the glass, pound with the muddler, add some vodka and enjoy a great aperitif cocktail. The Lime Caipiroska recipe.

Vesper, Vodka Martini and Dirty Martini

The cocktail loved by James Bond, who demanded his Martini shaken and not stirred e then become the immortal Vesper. The ingredients are 3: vodka, gin and dry vermouth, the bitter white one, herbaceous and aromatic. The result is a sober and subtle cocktail, for those used to strong flavors. No juices and sweetness this time! If you want to try a simplier versione, here it is the recipe for Vodka Martini, made only with vodka. The Dirty Martini is the same but with a splash of brine water from the olives.

Screwdriver

The screwdriver is a fabulous and direct cocktail, everyone can do it. Make an orange juice and put 4 cl of vodka, ice, and stir. Very simple, but as mentioned before, vodka gives substance to the juice, strengthening it. As Leonardo said: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication … and he was damn right. The Screwdriver recipe.

Apple Martini

One of the many children of Dry Martini, where vodka took over and replaced gin. In this case, the Apple Martini has become a very aromatic, green, sweet cocktail, made with green apple liqueur, vodka and triple sec. His taste is very sweet, a little decadent and certainly not snappy, but it’s not the worst. The Apple Martini recipe.

Salty Dog

Wins the award as the king of the thirst-quenching cocktail, thanks to the combination of vodka and grapefruit juice. The recipe is simple: mix the two ingredients in a glass with a salt crust. And you know that salt and grapefruit together make wonders. Nothing difficult, but it is easy to do and as a summer cocktail is wonderful. The Salty Dog recipe.

Kamikaze

The version of the Margarita with vodka instead of tequila. It is not a way to denigrate it, rather the Kamikaze is a great drink. Clean and essential, great for those who do not like tequila. Simple and effective, but highly drinkable thanks to the aromatic aftertaste given by the triple sec. The Kamikaze recipe.

Vodka Sour

Another very easy sour, but with incredible charm, thanks to the froth above the drink. The ingredients are few: vodka, lemon and gum syrup to which some egg white is added to make the foam. First, shake for 1 minute without ice and then quickly with ice to cool it. The cocktail has an essential flavor, but it is addictive. Make in liters, here is the Vodka Sour recipe.

Bloody Mary

The old Mary is an immortal beverage, but also one of the most difficult cocktails to make, due to the many ingredients involved. Tomato juice seasoned with lemon, tabasco, salt, pepper and Worchester sauce, and vodka. Make it in the mixing glass with ice. If you want to check the doses, here’s the Bloody Mary recipe.

Negroski

The Negroni version with vodka is simpler and more immediate, but it is even more wild, rough, suitable for palates that love strong and straightforward flavors. The proportions do not change: 1/3 of vodka, 1/3 of sweet vermouth, 1/3 of bitters, ice, stir in a mixing glass and pour in an old fashioned glass. The Negroski recipe.

Espresso Martini

Still a Martini, but this time made with vodka, coffee liqueur, syrup, and espresso. A super coffee that hits hard: the alcohol content is high. The flavor is good, balanced, perfect as after-dinner. The Espresso Martini recipe.

Godmother

The queen of the after-dinner cocktails made with vodka and amaretto present in equal parts, usually 3.5 cl each. The result is a sweet and velvety meditation drink, with the aromatic suggestion of amaretto acting as a protagonist. Very simple and easy to prepare, but not to be underestimated. The Godmother’s recipe.

Black and White Russian

Let’s end this unforgettable list with the two sons of the steppe: a rude mix of vodka and coffee liqueur. In the White, a thin layer of dry shaken cream is also added to the drink to make it airier. The result is a mottled and bitter cocktail, dry and elegant for Black, while the White is more velvety. Do not think that they are sweet cocktails: if you use a real coffee liqueur, you shouldn’t feel sugar on the palate. The recipes for making both the Black Russian and the White, and the ultimate coffee liqueur.

We mention for the record the last and the least two bombs: Long Island Iced Tea and the AMF, in which all four of the main distillates are present. Just skip these poisonous drinks please.