Vodka cocktails
Vodka is the quiet spirit: it adds strength without much flavour, so whatever you mix it with takes the lead. That makes it the base for some of the most ordered drinks in Britain.
Keep a bottle in the freezer and most of these come together in a few minutes.
18 recipes
Which vodka to use in cocktails
Vodka is a neutral spirit, so a clean, mid-priced bottle is all you need. It adds strength rather than flavour, which means the other ingredients do the work: fresh lime, good coffee, proper ginger beer. Spend any extra money on those instead.
Keep a bottle in the freezer. Vodka will not freeze at home-freezer temperatures, and very cold vodka gives you a colder drink from the first pour. Flavoured vodka is only worth buying where a recipe names it, such as the vanilla vodka in the Pornstar martini.
Easy vodka cocktails to start with
The simplest vodka drinks are built straight in the glass over ice. A Moscow mule is 50 ml vodka, 15 ml lime juice and 100 ml spicy ginger beer. A Black Russian is just 50 ml vodka and 25 ml coffee liqueur, and adding 25 ml of cold cream turns it into a White Russian.
A Bloody Mary is also built in the glass, with vodka, tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Taste it before you garnish and adjust the seasoning to suit.
How to make a good espresso martini
Use a fresh shot of espresso and let it cool for about a minute. Fresh crema builds the foam, while boiling-hot coffee kills it. Add 40 ml vodka, 20 ml coffee liqueur, 30 ml espresso and 5 ml sugar syrup to a shaker packed with ice, then shake as hard as you can for 15 seconds.
Strain through a fine strainer into a chilled glass so the foam sits smooth on top. The full recipe is on the espresso martini page, and martini cocktails has more drinks served in the same glass. Coffee can mask how strong a drink is, so pace yourself.
Vodka martinis and other short drinks
A vodka martini is a dry martini with vodka in place of gin. The dirty martini works with either: 60 ml spirit, 10 ml dry vermouth and 10 ml olive brine, stirred and served with three green olives.
For something fruitier, the Cosmopolitan shakes 40 ml vodka with Cointreau, lime and cranberry juice. The Vesper is the stiff option, blending gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc.
Vodka drinks are easy to drink quickly because the spirit has so little flavour. Pace yourself, and offer water or an alcohol-free option alongside.
Questions people ask
What is the best vodka for cocktails?
A clean, neutral, mid-priced vodka is the best choice for most cocktails. Vodka adds strength more than flavour, so a premium bottle makes little difference once it is mixed with lime, ginger beer or coffee. Store it in the freezer so drinks start out very cold.
What is in a Moscow mule?
A Moscow mule is vodka, lime juice and spicy ginger beer over ice. The recipe uses 50 ml of vodka, 15 ml of lime juice and 100 ml of ginger beer, with a mint sprig and lime wedge. It is often served in a copper mug, but any tall glass works.
What is the easiest vodka cocktail?
A Black Russian is one of the easiest vodka cocktails, with only two ingredients. Pour 50 ml of vodka and 25 ml of coffee liqueur over ice in a rocks glass and stir. A Moscow mule is nearly as simple, and also needs no shaker.
What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian?
A White Russian is a Black Russian with cream added. Both start with 50 ml of vodka and 25 ml of coffee liqueur over ice, and the White Russian adds 25 ml of cold cream on top. Use whole milk instead of cream for a lighter drink.
How do you get foam on an espresso martini?
Use freshly made espresso, let it cool for about a minute, and shake hard for 15 seconds with plenty of ice. The crema in fresh coffee creates the foam, and the hard shake whips it up. Strain through a fine strainer so the foam stays smooth.
What is a dirty martini?
A dirty martini is a martini with olive brine added. This recipe uses 60 ml of gin or vodka, 10 ml of dry vermouth and 10 ml of brine, stirred with ice until very cold. Serve it with three green olives.