50 Vodka Cocktail Recipes That Taste as Good as They Look

There's so much more to vodka than those cringey college shots. Here, 50 easy vodka cocktail recipes to make sure you never think of clear stuff the same way again.

Drink, Cocktail garnish, Bay breeze, Non-alcoholic beverage, Juice, Cocktail, Rum swizzle, Mai tai, Alcoholic beverage, Zombie,
Drink, Cocktail garnish, Bay breeze, Non-alcoholic beverage, Juice, Cocktail, Rum swizzle, Mai tai, Alcoholic beverage, Zombie,
(Image credit: Courtesy)
Lori Keong
By Lori Keong, Megan DiTrolio
published

Ah, vodka—so often relegated to the boring old "I'm watching my calories" vodka soda category or the sloppy vodka shots of college days past. Now that we're adults, let's give the perfect mixing spirit the treatment it deserves. Behold: 50 exemplary (and easy-to-pull-off) vodka cocktail recipes to try at home. You'll never think of the clear stuff the same way again.

1/50
Tito’s Apple & Cinnamon Infusion
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Tito’s Apple & Cinnamon Infusion

Ingredients:

750 ml Tito’s Handmade Vodka

1 Granny Smith apple

1 Red Delicious apple

2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

Slice apples, then add to a resealable jar. Add cinnamon sticks and fill with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Store in a cool dark place
for 5 days, taste testing daily. Strain the infusion once desired
flavor is reached. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Tito's Vodka

2/50
Basil Vodka Gimlet
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Basil Vodka Gimlet

Ingredients:

2 oz Basil-infused King St. Vodka

1 oz Simple syrup

¾ oz Fresh lime juice

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Directions:

This Gimlet is an Italian twist on the original gimlet, typically made with 2 parts gin, 1 part lime juice. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in ingredients, shaking. Strain into a chilled glass.

Courtesy of King St. Vodka, Kate Hudson's gluten-free, non-GMO, crafted with alkaline water and 7x distilled spirits company.

3/50
Compass Point
(Image credit: The Restaurant Project)

Compass Point

Ingredients:

2 oz. Tattersall Vodka

1.5 oz. Tattersall Creme De Fleur

.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 oz. Simple Syrup

1 slice cucumber

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Courtesy of Tattersall Distilling

4/50
Thank You, Baby Jesus!
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Thank You, Baby Jesus!

Ingredients:

12/31 oz. Tito's Vodka

12/31 oz. Sweet Vermouth

12/31 oz. Lemon juice

12/31 oz. Cocktail Artist Mule syrup

2 whole strawberries

5 oz. Schweppes Club Soda

1 strawberry slice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients sans soda water. Muddle strawberries. Shake with ice. Strain. Top off with Schweppes Club Soda. Garnish with strawberry slice.

Courtesy of Juyoung Kang of The Dorsey

5/50
Dirty Vodka Martini
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Dirty Vodka Martini

Ingredients:

3 oz of King St. Vodka

1 oz Olive brine

Dash of dry vermouth

Garnish with fresh olives

Directions:

Reportedly, this is Kate Hudson's favorite drink. Mix ingredients in a mixing glass, stir, and pour into serving glasses. Garnish with olives.

Courtesy of King St Vodka.

6/50
Absolut Juice Apple Sangria
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Absolut Juice Apple Sangria

Ingredients:

1 1/2 part Absolut Juice Apple

2 parts red wine

4 dashes Angostura Bitters

1/2 part Triple Sec or Orange Liqueur

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a glass with ice, and garnish with orange slices, apple slices, and grapes.

Courtesy of Absolut

7/50
Moscow Mule
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Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. of vodka

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. ginger beer

Directions:

Add first three ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake for 15-20 seconds. Strain in to your favorite copper mug and fill with fresh ice. Top with ginger beer and stir to incorporate.

Courtesy of Tom Dufek of Plain Spoke Cocktail Co.

8/50
Tito's Classic
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Tito's Classic

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

4 oz. of water

Directions:

Just add Tito’s Handmade Vodka and water to a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon slice. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Tito's Vodka

9/50
Dirty Rose
(Image credit: Courtesy of company)

Dirty Rose

Ingredients:

1 oz King St Vodka

.5 oz rose water (pure, unsweetened)

1.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

8-12 oz sparkling lemon-flavored water

A dash of honey to taste

Dried roses to garnish

*You can also add a splash of hibiscus extract or cranberry juice for color

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together (not the soda). Once mixed, top with soda, and garnish with dried roses.

Courtesy of King St Vodka.

10/50
Pomegranate Sour
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Pomegranate Sour

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. of King St. Vodka

.25 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. Fresh pomegranate

.5 oz. Lemon juice

.5 oz. Pineapple juice

.5 oz. Brown sugar syrup

Directions:

Shake ingredients in mixing tin with orange slices. Pour into tumbler over fresh ice. Garnish with dehydrated oranges and pomegranate seeds.

Courtesy of King St. Cocktails.

11/50
Pablo Picasso
(Image credit: Courtesy of company)

Pablo Picasso

Ingredients:

3 oz. Picasso Blend

.75 oz. Lavender Honey

.75 Honeydew Puree

1.5 oz. Absolut Vodka

.75 oz. Lemon Juice

For garnish, Edible Flower

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a small mixing tin. Add ice, shake vigorously, and double strain into the glass. Garnish with an edible flower.

Courtesy of Gary Wallach, Food & Beverage Director at Arlo
SoHo.

12/50
Svedka Spiked Spa Water
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Svedka Spiked Spa Water

Ingredients:

1 1/2 parts Svedka Cucumber Lime

3/4 part Fresh Lemon Juice

1/2 part Orange Curaçao

Bitters

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, except bitters, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice into a sugar-rimmed tall glass. Garnish with cucumber slices and a float of bitters.

Courtesy of SVEDKA

13/50
Currant Affairs Cocktail
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Currant Affairs Cocktail

Ingredients:

3 parts Absolut Elyx

1 part Oloroso sherry

1 part Lemon Juice

1 part Maple Syrup

1 part Egg White

Sprig Redcurrants

Garnish with oranges and redcurrants

Directions:

Muddle the red redcurrants in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add all other ingredients and shake hard without ice, then add ice and shake again. Fine strain over cracked ice in a highball glass and garnish.

Courtesy of Absolut Elyx.

14/50
Where I'd Gone
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Where I'd Gone

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Moskovskaya Vodka

¼ oz. Maplejack Liqueur

¼ oz. Verjus

¾ oz. Pear Syrup

¼ oz. Ginger Syrup

½ oz. Lemon Juice Soda

2 dashes of salt

Directions:

Add all ingredients (except soda) to a small tin. Add ice, and shake – fold soda into tin – then, strain. Pour into glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Courtesy of Marshall Minaya, Beverage Director, for Valerie, NYCHigh.

15/50
The Belvedere Spice of Life
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The Belvedere Spice of Life

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Belvedere Vodka

5 oz. Carrot Juice

.75 oz. Lemon Juice

Half bar spoon of grated ginger or ginger syrup

.5 bar spoon of miso or dashi powder

.25 oz. honey syrup

For garnish, Dash of chili flakes and carrot leaves

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a shaker and shake with two ice cubes. Strain over fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with chili flakes and carrot leaves.

Courtesy of Chef Candice Kumai for Belvedere Vodka

16/50
Svedka Fresa Bandito
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Svedka Fresa Bandito

Ingredients:

2 Parts Svedka Rosé

1 Part Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Whole Berry Strawberry

0.5 Parts Simple Syrup

3 Sprigs Cilantro

Splash Club Soda

Directions: 

Muddle all ingredients except soda water in a shaker tin. Add ice. Strain into a Collins glass over ice. Top with soda. Garnish with another strawberry and cilantro sprigs.

Courtesy of SVEDKA

17/50
Blood Orange Cosmo
(Image credit: Courtesy of company)

Blood Orange Cosmo

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Titos Vodka

1 oz. Blood Orange Pure

1/2 oz. Triple Sec

1/2 oz. Lime juice

Directions:

Add ingredients to a shaker, shake, and strain into glass. Garnish with a toasted orange peel.

Courtesy of Ocean Restaurant at Cape Arundel Inn & Resort.

18/50
Drinks With Bay
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Drinks With Bay

Ingredients:

4 parts Absolut Elyx

2 parts Lillet Blanc

1 slice Orange

1 slice Lemon

2 Cherries

1 part Bay Leaf Syrup

Tonic (to top it off, to taste)

Directions:

In a shaker, muddle the orange, lemon, and cherry to release juices, then add the other ingredients and shake with cubed ice. Strain over fresh ice in a Copper Balloon Cup, then top it off with tonic. Garnish with a bay leaf, orange slice and a cherry.

Courtesy of Gareth Evans for Absolut Elyx.

19/50
Espresso Martini
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Espresso Martini

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Grey Goose vodka

1 oz. single origin finest quality espresso

3/4 oz. premium coffee liqueur

1 pinch of salt

Garnish: salted dark chocolate powder

Directions:

Shake all ingredients and strain into a martini glass.

Courtesy of Grey Goose

20/50
Swedish Riviera
(Image credit: Courtesy of company)

Swedish Riviera

Ingredients:

3 parts Absolut Elyx

3 parts Coconut Water

1 part Lemon

1 part Honey

3 parts Prosecco

Directions:

In a Copper Balloon Cup, build the ingredients over cubed ice, top with Prosecco, and stir gently to combine. Garnish with cinnamon and orange slices.

Courtesy of Absolut Elyx.

21/50
The Belvedere Morning Twist
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The Belvedere Morning Twist

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Belvedere Vodka

.75 oz. Lemon Juice

.75 oz. Honey Syrup

1 oz. Matcha Tea

Ginger Beer

Dried Roses

Directions:

Shake all ingredients but the ginger beer together. Strain into highball glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with dried roses.

Courtesy of Chef Candice Kumai for Belvedere Vodka

22/50
Honey Deuce
(Image credit: Mark Tomaras)

Honey Deuce

Ingredients:

1.5 parts Grey Goose vodka

3 parts fresh lemonade

½ part Premium Raspberry Liqueur

3 honeydew melon balls for garnish

Directions:

Chill a Collins glass by placing in the refrigerator or freezer. When sufficiently chilled, fill with ice. Measure and add vodka to Collins glass. Top with measured amount of fresh lemonade. Measure and add raspberry liqueur. Garnish with a skewer of 1 or multiple frozen honeydew melon balls.

Courtesy of Grey Goose

23/50
Gingered Apple Sparkler
(Image credit: OksanaKiian)

Gingered Apple Sparkler

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. handcrafted Vodka

1.5 oz. sour apple liqueur

Splash of Angostura Bitters

4 oz. chilled Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini Lemon/Lime

1 maraschino cherry

Ice

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, liqueur and bitters; shake well. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with Brooklyn Crafted and the cherry.

Courtesy of Brooklyn Crafted

24/50
Infamous Orange Crush
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Infamous Orange Crush

Ingredients:

5 oz. Natalie’s Orange Juice

2 oz. vodka

1 oz. Triple Sec

Splash of lemon/lime soda

1 slice of lime for garnish

Directions:

Fill a glass with ice. Add ingredients. Shake. Add slice of orange for garnish.

Courtesy of Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company

25/50
Tangerine and Olive Cocktail
(Image credit: Phil Hudghton)

Tangerine and Olive Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 oz. Absolut Elyx

.75 oz. Aperol

.15 oz. Campari1oz Tangerine juice

.75 oz. Lillet Rouge

3 oz. Champagne

Garnishes, like dried oranges and fresh olives

Directions:

Build over ice and top with champagne. Garnish with dried oranges and fresh olives.

Courtesy of Gareth Evans for Absolut Elyx.

26/50
Tito's Bloody Mary
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Tito's Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

3-4 oz. your favorite Bloody Mary mix

Garnish such as celery, olives, dill pickles, bacon and/or smoked sausage

Ice

Directions:

Combine Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bloody Mary mix, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour everything into a glass. Add your favorite garnishes. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Tito's Vodka

27/50
Strawberry Basil Mule
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Strawberry Basil Mule

Ingredients:

8 Strawberries

Half a Lime

Basil Sprig

3.5 oz. Brooklyn Crafted Lemon Lime Ginger Beer

Directions:

Muddle fresh strawberries (roughly 6), 2 lime wedges and basil in a copper mule mug. Top with ice, vodka and Brooklyn Crafted. Garnish with strawberry and lime wedge and basil leaves.

Courtesy of Brooklyn Crafted

28/50
SVEDKA Mule
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SVEDKA Mule

Ingredients:

2 parts Svedka SVEDKA

2 Lime Wedges

4 parts Ginger Beer

Directions:

Squeeze lime wedges into a Collins glass and fill with ice. Pour in SVEDKA Vodka and top with cold ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedges.

Courtesy of SVEDKA

29/50
The Bradshaw
(Image credit: The Restaurant Project)

The Bradshaw

Ingredients:

2 oz. Tattersall Vodka

.5 oz. Tattersall Orange Crema

.75 oz. Lime Juice

.15 oz. Simple Syrup

.5 oz. Tattersall Cranberry Liqueur

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a lemon pigtail.

Courtesy of Tattersall Distilling in Minneapolis

30/50
Garden of Green
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Garden of Green

Ingredients:

5 oz. Ketel One Family-Made Vodka

5 Leaves Apple Mint

.5 oz. Snap Pea Reduction*

.5 oz. Lemon juice

Splash of Soda Water

Small Handful Micro Mizuna

Directions:

Tear apple mint leaves and throw in a mason jar. Add all ingredients except the soda water and ice and cap the jar. Shakevigorously. Open and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with micro mizuna and serve directly from Masonjar.

*Either juice the peas or blend with water and then fine strain.

Courtesy of Ketel One

31/50
Chandon POM Spritz
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Chandon POM Spritz

Ingredients: