Vodka – Historically a stereotypical part of the Russian diet, this ‘neutral’ grain alcohol can be mixed to create some of the best flavoured cocktails in the world…
Here over the next 10 drinks, you will see some of, what I think to be, the best vodka summer cocktails in the world…
10. Vodka Sea Breeze
2m Vodka
2m Cranberry Juice
2m Pineapple Juice
Lime wedge (garnish)
9. Voodoo
50ml Russian Vodka
50ml Mango Nectar
2 lime wedges
3 mint leaves
Top up soda water
Mint sprig (for garnish)
8. Classic Caipiroska
50ml High grade vodka (Green Mark/42 Below)
½ lime (cut into wedges
2 tablespoons Muscovado sugar.
Squeeze then muddle the lime and sugar (use Agave Nectar for a smoother drink), then top up with crushed ice and pour over vodka. Stir and serve before the drink has time to dilute.
Top Tip: Use any citrus fruit you prefer here. I recommend any orange citrus fruit (oranges, mandarins, satsumas, tangerines & clems are all perfect choices as they offer slightly different flavours).
7.Mint & Cucumber Vodka Fizz
50ml Vodka
12.5ml Cointreau
1 teaspoon Sugar syrup
12 mint leaves
½ cucumber, sliced
25ml fresh squeezed lime juice
Cucumber Spear & Mint sprig (for garnish).
Muddle the cucumber slices and mint with the sugar syrup and top up with the alcohol and lime. Shake well and strain over crushed ice. Top up with Soda Water/Ginger ale and garnish with the cucumber spear and mint sprig.
Top tip: for added flavour (and a Mexican feel) use Agave Nectar and Agave Sec instead of Sugar Syrup and Cointreau respectively…
6. Lemon Drop
1 measure Vodka
½ measure Lemon Juice
1tsp Sugar syrup (1 tsp for every 1 measure of vodka)
Lemon twist for garnish
Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist. This is a sour drink so is best kept as more of a desert cocktail… You have been warned!
5. Acapulco Zombie
20ml Vodka
20ml Tequila
20ml Gold Rum
40ml Orange juice
40ml Grapefruit Juice
1 small dash Crème de Menthe
Serving over ice in a tall glass, build this cocktail working your way down the list… Drop the crème de menthe in last and allow it to rest on top (after stirring the other ingredients first).
4. Cucumber Cooler
50ml Russian Vodka
15ml Sugar Syrup
12” Thin slice (long-side) cucumber
1 small slice (wheel – for garnish)
1/8 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves.
Muddle the cucumber and thyme in a shaker; add the sugar syrup and vodka. Shake gently and pour over ice in a small goblet. Garnish with the cucumber wheel and a splash of soda water.
3. Cucumber & Ginger Fizz (up to 8 servings)
135ml Vodka
80ml ginger liqueur
top up Ginger Ale/Beer
2 limes (wedges – you should be able to get 8 per lime)
2 cucumbers (1 roughly chopped; 1 thinly sliced length-ways)
This is a two stage recipe and does require some prior preparation…
Stage one: Skin one of the cucumbers and dice loosely. Put the cucumber and all of the vodka into a glass container and refridgerate for 1-3 hours. When you’re happy with the strength of the ‘infusion’ stain and sieve the vodka into a separate container and refridgerate for a further 2 days, discard the cucumber.
Stage two: Peel the other cucumber length-ways and put 3 slices in each of the 8 glasses. Add to this 3 tablespoons (45ml) of the vodka to each glass and squeeze two of the lime wedges into the mixture (drop in the lime wedges for garnish also). Top up with crushed ice and add 10ml of the ginger liqueur (10ml per glass). Stir gently before topping up with Ginger Ale/Beer.
Serve with a straw and a cocktail stirrer.
2. Wallbanger 43
50ml High grade vodka
20ml Licor 43
75ml freshly squeezed Orange Juice
1. Classic Screwdriver
50ml Green Mark Vodka
100ml freshly squeezed Orange Juice
Orange Wedge (for garnish).
So there you go, 10 of the best vodka cocktails you can drink this summer. The screwdriver is my number one by a country mile, and that is not flattering (done right it genuinely is that good!).
I hope you enjoy them all as much as I do! Next up… Top 10 Gin Summer Cocktails…
The Fervent Shaker 