Top 10 Vodka Cocktail Recipes

As Christmas is just around the corner I thought now would be a good time to put together a list of my top 10 favourite Vodka Cocktail Recipes. They are all easy to make, so why not organise a cocktail party for the perfect excuse to try them out. Have fun girls and drink sensibly!

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Raise a glass to Carrie and those Sex And The City girls by easily mixing your very own Cosmopolitan Cocktail. To create the perfect Cosmopolitan you will need the following ingredients: -

• 1oz of vodka
• 1/2 oz of triple sec
• 1/2 oz of lime juice
• 1/2 oz of cranberry juice

Shake the vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the contents into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wedge on the rim of the glass. Serve immediately.

Bloody Mary

An all time classic, which I’m sure you’ve all experienced in the past, but here’s how to make the perfect Bloody Mary! You’ll need the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka (we recommend a pepper vodka, such as Absolut Pepper)
• 200ml of tomato juice
• 2 - 10 dashes of tabasco (depending how spicy you would like it!)
• 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• One teaspoon of horseradish sauce
• One dash of port or red wine
• The juice of 1/4 of a lemon
• A grind of salt and pepper
• Small stick of celery
• Slice of lime

Not the most challenging to mix this one! Bang everything into a shaker 1/2 filled with ice, shake and strain the contents into an ice-filled highball. Garnish the cocktail with a small stick of celery and a slice of lime and hey presto, the perfect Bloody Mary!

Vodka Espresso

Great story behind this one, and if you need an instant kick then this is the one for you! The Vodka Espresso was invented by famous cocktail mixer Dick Bradsell when he worked in Fred’s Bar, Soho, London. The story goes that a well known model walked into the bar and asked Dick to mix her a drink that would “wake me up, and then f*** me up!”. On the spur of the moment, Dick mixed the brand new drink with the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• One large shot of fresh espresso coffee
• Dash of sugar syrup
• Dash ot Toissant liqueur (or Kahlua).

Start by shaking half filling a shaker with ice and add the large shot of vodka, the espresso, sugar syrup and toissant. Shake well and then strain the contents into a chilled martini glass. A great way to set you up for a long night ahead!

Harvey Wallbanger

Another great story behind the world famous Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. It is said that a surfer called Harvey, who’s tipple of choice was the Screwdriver, lost a surf contest, and in desparate need to down his sorrows, concluded that his usual screwdriver just wouldn’t be strong enough for him. He mixesd his screwdriver and decided to add some Galliano to the mixture. The rest of the evening was spent bumping into things, and, voila, the Harvey Wallbanger was born. To mix your very own Harvey Wallbanger you’ll need the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• Fresh orange juice
• Half a small shot (25ml) of Galliano
• Slice of orange

Pour the vodka shot into an ice filled highball and then fill almost to the top with fresh orange juice. Stir well, and then float the shot of Galliano on top. Serve with a straw, garnish with a slice of orange and watch out for the walls!

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule cocktail has been around for a while, but really became popular in the late 90s when Smirnoff launched a pre-mixed version. Where’s the fun in that though, especially when it’s so easy to make your own! All you’ll need is the following: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• One lime (cut into wedges)
• Ginger beer or ginger ale
• Ice

Start by filling a highball with ice and then add the large shot of Vodka. Squeeze the lime into the glass and then for extra zest drop the husks in. Top up the glass with ginger beer (or ale), stir well and serve immediately with a straw. Na zdorovia! Cheers

White Russian

The White Russian is a very popular cocktail, which has been around for quite a while. To make a White Russian you’ll need the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• One small shot (25ml) of Kahlua
• One small shot of single cream

Mix the vodka and kahlua in a shaker, which has been 2/3 filled with ice. Shake the drink well and strain the contents of the shaker into an ice-filled rocks glass. Layer a small shot of single cream over the top of the cocktail by pouring it over the back of a spoon.

Anouchka

The Anouchka cocktail was created at the Library Bar, by world famous bar tender Salvatore Calabrese. The cocktail was first mixed for a Russian guest, after they asked for something “strong and sweet”. To mix an Anouchka cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients (nice and simple this one!).

• One large shot (50ml) of Vodka
• Two dashes of creme de mure.
• Some frozen water… ice ;-p

Half fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka and creme de mure. Stir well and strain the contents into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Enjoy!

Dillitini

To mix your very own Dillitini cocktail you’ll need the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• One small shot (25ml) of aquavit
• A handful of fresh dill

Put all the ingredients into a shaker, which has been half filled with ice. Shake the cocktail thoroughly for 25-30 seconds and strain the contents into a chilled martini glass.

Detroit Martini

To make the perfect Detroit Martini cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients: -

• One large shot (50ml) of vodka
• A dash of sugar syrup
• A dash of orange bitters
• 2 sprigs of mint

Half fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka, sugar syrup, orange bitter and a sprig of mint. Shake well for 25-30 seconds and strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass. Garnish the cocktail with the second sprig of mint and enjoy!

Tatanka Cocktail

The Tatanka cocktail is Polands favourite mixed Vodka drink, so it must be good! Nice and easy this one and all you’ll need for the perfect Tatanka cocktail is the following: -

• Apple juice
• Vodka
• Ice

Mix the apple juice and the vodka together in a ration of 2:1 and serve in a tumbler over lots of ice. Nice Na zdrowie. Vivat! Cheers

That’s it for my top 10 vodka cocktails. If you’ve got a favourite Vodka cocktail recipe that I’ve not mentioned then please feel free to add it to the comments below!

More great cocktail recipes to come!

If you want even more ideas, then visit Alex’s Cocktail Recipes for a ridiculously large list of cocktails!