With all of the attention given to Martinis and Cosmopolitans in television and movies, vodka has become the most popular liquor ordered in both restaurants and nightclubs. Vodka can be easily mixed with an endless number of juices and liqueurs, making it quite difficult to make a bad vodka cocktail.
Whether you are hosting an intimate gathering for sophisticated guests or a luau for beach bums, here are 7 classic vodka party drinks that are sure to be a hit with everyone.
Bloody Mary
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1/4 oz. lemon juice
2 drops Worcestershire
2 drops Tabasco
tomato juice
salt & pepper to taste
lime, celery sticks, or green olives for garnish
Directions:
In a Collins or Bucket glass, combine all of the ingredients and fill with ice. Stir well, and garnish with a lime squeeze, celery stick, 2 green olives, or all of the above. Add salt and pepper to taste, or extra Tabasco for those who prefer a spicier cocktail.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz. Cointreau
3/4 oz. cranberry juice
1/4 oz. lime juice
orange peel for garnish
Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange peel. For a more sophisticated presentation, serve with a flamed orange peel skewered on a glass swizzle stick.
Long Island Iced Tea
Ingredients:
1 fluid ounce vodka
1 fluid ounce dry gin
1 fluid ounce triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
1 fluid ounce rum
1 fluid ounce tequila
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle cola-flavored carbonated beverage
1 wedge lemon
1 wedge lime
Directions:
Pour vodka, gin, triple sec, rum, and tequila into a tall glass with ice. Top with cola and garnish with lemon and lime wedges.
Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz. gin or vodka
1/4 oz. dry vermouth (use less vermouth for a drier martini)
green olives, pearl onions, or lemon twist for garnish
Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with green olives, pearl onions, or a lemon twist.
Lemon Drop
Ingredients:
2 oz. vodka
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. sugar
lemon slice
lemon wedge
Directions:
Take a lemon wedge and moisten the rim of a cocktail glass. Spread ½ of the sugar onto a flat plate and dip the rim of the glass in the sugar to frost. Combine vodka, lemon juice and remaining sugar in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.
Sex on the Beach
Ingredients:
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
orange juice
pineapple juice
cranberry juice
Maraschino cherries for garnish
Directions:
Fill a Collins or Bucket glass with ice. Add vodka, Peach Schnapps, and fill with equal parts of orange, pineapple and cranberry juice. Garnish with a cherry.
Kamikaze
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1/4 oz. Triple Sec
1/4 oz. Rose’s lime juice
Directions:
Kamikaze’s can be enjoyed two different ways. To serve as a shot, combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and pour into a shot glass. To serve as a cocktail, build ingredients in a rock glass over ice.