6 Best Vodka Cocktails Which You Must Try!
Like other distilled spirits, vodka was not initially intended to be drunk for pleasure. However, over time, it has become the base for some of the best vodka cocktails enjoyed around the world. From classic martinis to innovative infusions, the best cocktails with vodka are beloved for their versatility and smooth taste.
Whether you are exploring the best cocktail vodka recipes or seeking a new favorite, these must-try drinks show vodka’s unique ability to blend with various flavors and ingredients.
Best Cocktails with Vodka
Best Vodka Cocktail #1: Crocodile
This vodka cocktail is definitely fierce and packs a punch. But its name likely comes from its unusual color, thanks to Midori, the Japanese melon liqueur, which gives it a vibrant green hue.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz Midori
- 2 oz lemon juice
- Crushed ice
Step 1: Pour the vodka, triple sec, Midori, and lemon juice over the ice and shake vigorously until well chilled.
Step 2: Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Best Vodka Cocktail #2: Golden Tartness
Summer colors combined with the fall flavors of fruits and herbs create this delicious and refreshing vodka cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz Strega liqueur
- 1/2 oz creme de banane
- 1/2 oz concentrated orange juice
- Crushed ice
- Cherry and orange slice
Step 1: Shake the first four ingredients with ice until well chilled.
Step 2: Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.
Best Vodka Cocktail #3: Ram-pa-pa
The Netherlands is famous for advocaat, and its Mexican version is a thick, yellow vodka cocktail that will satisfy those with a sweet tooth.
Ingredients for 8 servings:
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/4 cups chilled milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup vodka
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Step 1: Set aside the cinnamon; blend the remaining ingredients in a mixer on high speed for 45 seconds.
Step 2: Strain and chill.
Step 3: Pour into glasses and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Step 4: Use a cinnamon stick as a stirrer in each glass.
Best Vodka Cocktail #4: Freezing Chilli
A vodka cocktail for the brave, its spiciness depends on the type of chili pepper used, as some varieties are hotter than others. The amount of chili added and whether the seeds are removed also matter. For an even stronger cocktail, you can add chili-infused vodka.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chili peppers
- Crushed ice
Step 1: Shake the vodka and chili with ice until a frost forms on the shaker.
Step 2: Strain into a chilled whiskey glass.
Best Vodka Cocktail #5: Blush
If you don’t have raspberry liqueur in your bar, you can substitute it with strawberry liqueur or experiment with blackcurrant liqueur for a completely different vodka cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz raspberry liqueur
- 2 tablespoons vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 oz strawberry syrup
- 3-4 strawberries
Step 1: Blend all ingredients, except the strawberries, for about 10 seconds in a blender until smooth and frothy.
Step 2: Pour into a medium-sized cocktail glass and garnish with strawberries.
Best Vodka Cocktail #6: Woodsman
If you’ve worked hard all day and your back is aching, you may need a strong vodka drink to get you back on your feet.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 2 oz apple brandy
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 measure simple syrup
- 6 pitted cherries
- 2 tablespoons finely crushed ice
- Soda water
- Cherry for garnish
Step 1: Mix all ingredients except the soda water in a blender.
Step 2: Pour into a tall, chilled glass.
Step 3: Top off with soda water and garnish with a cherry.
Quick Look at Vodka’s Ambiguous Origin
Unfortunately, the origin of this popular drink is still unclear. The Poles point to a 1405 reference to vodka in Sandomierz records, while the Russians appealed to the European Court of Justice for clarification and felt validated.
The exact history is controversial, and the original ingredients and purpose of this spirit, whose name means “water,” remain a mystery. Interestingly, vodka was primely used as an aftershave lotion and mouthwash. It took a couple of decades for vodka to start being mixed with other ingredients like aromatic herbs and spices to create the best vodka drinks.
