30 Easy Vodka Cocktail Recipes

Updated September 26, 2019
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Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Whether you're interested in a cocktail that is simple and easy or one that's a little more complex, let our favorite vodka cocktails be your favorites as well. 

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Cherry Berry Cocktail

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Cherry Berry Cocktail Recipe

This vodka cocktail is berry bliss. Garnish with a handful of your favorite berries skewered on a cocktail pick or straw.

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The Salty Dog

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

The Salty Dog Recipe

Say goodbye to screwdrivers, you've just found your new favorite brunch cocktail. It doesn't get much better than this perfect blend of vodka and grapefruit juice.

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The Fig & Olive Cocktail

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

The Fig & Olive Cocktail Recipe

If you want a refreshing, unique brunch cocktail, look no further than the Fig & Olive. Blood oranges are in season from December to May, but you may be able to find blood orange juice year-round in the organic produce section of your local grocer.

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Moscow Mule

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Moscow Mule Recipe

A classic cocktail made with vodka and ginger beer. A Moscow Mule is traditionally served in a copper mug, but you can also enjoy it in a highball glass filled with ice.

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Simple Screwdriver

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Simple Screwdriver Recipe

Vodka and orange juice– it doesn’t get much easier. Here's to everyone's favorite brunch cocktail!

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Southern Living Bloody Mary

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Southern Living Bloody Mary Recipe

While the South can’t lay claim to the Bloody Mary (even cocktail experts can’t agree on where or when it was first made), it’s such a fixture at weekend brunches and afternoon tailgates that it might as well have originated here. Like many Southern recipes, the cocktail appears simple, but it’s deceptively complex. Tomato juice and vodka are essential—from there, spices and seasonings vary as much as the person making the drink. We tested all sorts of add-ins (some traditional, some not so much) to make a spicy, pungent base that’s just right when mixed with your favorite vodka and served over ice in a sturdy glass. As for garnishes, some bars and restaurants are all about the showmanship, from steamed oysters to boiled shrimp, but we prefer a simpler approach with celery, pickled vegetables, and—to gild the lily—a bacon salt rim. Maybe the Bloody Mary is more Southern than we thought.

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Cranberry-Limeade Spritzer

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Cranberry-Limeade Spritzer Recipe

Sweet and tart meet vodka in this refreshing holiday cocktail. 

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Strawberry-Lime Rickey

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Strawberry-Lime Rickey Recipe

If fresh strawberries aren’t quite at their peak in your market, go ahead and substitute thawed frozen berries. Muddling thoroughly is essential here: The more the berries break down, the more color and flavor they’ll release into the drink. If you’re not a gin fan, vodka or bourbon will work, but we like the subtle fragrance of juniper and other aromatics that gin introduces to the mix. Rickeys are often served alcohol free, and are every bit as refreshing, so omit the gin entirely, if you like.

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Rosé Sangria

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Rosé Sangria Recipe

Perfect for any spring or summer gathering, this bubbly, refreshing rosé sangria is as easy to make as it is to sip. The fruity base of berry puree and vodka could easily be prepped ahead of time and chilled so that all that’s left to do is pour in your sparkling water and rosé right before serving. You could even prepare the sangria in single portions for more of a custom cocktail feel, having a small amount of puree, vodka, and fresh fruit ready to go in glasses when guests arrive; then, simply top each off with bubbly as needed. To switch things up, you could also substitute fresh peaches and/or raspberries in place of the strawberries used to create the puree. Try freezing some of the fresh fruits you plan to include (such as grapes and berries) beforehand in order to keep the beverage cool. 

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Boozy Lavender Lemonade

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Boozy Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Refreshing lemonade gets a delightful floral twist with lavender-infused vodka. Use your Magical Butter Machine to create this simple flavored booze in just an hour, making this recipe perfect for last-minute parties. It serves a crowd, so be prepared to share. Outside of the context of the big-batch, fizzy lemonade cocktail we've made here, the lavender-infused vodka also makes for an excellent homemade gift. 

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Spicy Chile Vodka

Credit: Stephen Devries; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Spicy Chile Vodka Recipe

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Big-Batch Bloody Marys

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Big-Batch Bloody Marys Recipe

Making bloody Marys for a big crowd doesn’t mean you have to spend your whole brunch or tailgate playing bartender for everyone. Our big-batch recipe makes enough for 10 people and frees you up to enjoy the party. Set out these Big-Batch Bloody Marys in a large punch bowl or glass dispenser with your choice of garnishes next to glasses and a bucket of ice and let everyone help themselves. Even better, you can make this cocktail ahead. You can prepare the mixture up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator; reserve the vodka and stir it in before serving.

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Cucumber-Lime-Lavender Spritzer

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cucumber-Lime-Lavender Spritzer Recipe

This effervescent, nonalcoholic mocktail refresher offers the perfect balance of floral, tangy, and sweet flavors. If you’d like to turn it into a tipple, try adding a splash of gin or vodka. While we call for dried lavender, if you have access to fresh, steep a few sprigs of it in place of the dried herb—and garnish each drink with a fresh sprig, too, for a lovely, fragrant touch. You can make the syrup and cucumber-lime mixture up to a day ahead; stir in club soda just before serving.

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Bay Breeze

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Bay Breeze Recipe

Fruit juices and vodka are all you'll need for this beachy cocktail. Now all you need is a tropical island!

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Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers Recipe

Instead of the fluorescent cocktail-cherry garnish, fresh cherries take center stage in this refreshing lemon-and-vodka sipper. Macerating the cherries in sugar helps to soften their thick skins and release their juices, which become gorgeously syrupy in the pan.

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Rocket Booster Cocktail

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Audrey Davis

Rocket Booster Cocktail Recipe

This slushy drink blends vodka with Campari and Tang to create a delicious balance of bitter and sweet in a single sip. So refreshing, it's just what you need to keep cool on sun-kissed, summer afternoons.

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Pomegranate Spritzer

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Pomegranate Spritzer Recipe

This is a wonderfully festive beverage to open a dinner party: Sweet-tart pomegranate juice is balanced by bitters and spiked with vodka and fizzy rosé. Find pomegranate arils in the refrigerated area of the supermarket produce section; they’ll save you at least 10 minutes because you won’t need to pull the arils from a whole pomegranate.

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This Green Bloody Mary Is a Green Juice You'll Actually Like

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This Green Bloody Mary Is a Green Juice You'll Actually Like Recipe

If you're anything like us, you love a good bloody mary but shy away from green juices. Whether it’s an aversion to its Goop-y connotations or fear of drinking vegetables, they're not for everyone. But good news: We've finally found a green juice we can get behind (because it has booze in it). This green bloody mary has the health benefits of green juice with the delicious taste of our favorite brunch drink. If vodka isn’t your thing, we can say with all confidence that this homemade bloody mary would also taste great with tequila.

This spice-packed green juice is loaded with veggies like peppers, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, and kale. The zesty kick from the horseradish and lime juice is rounded out by the tangy fish sauce, and the spice is tamed by delicious cucumber juice ice cubes. It’s better than any store-bought mix you could get your hands on. Pro tip: Make those green ice cubes all the time and use them in every drink you make ever: water, sparkling water, lemonade, a gimlet, a Moscow mule.

 

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Black Russian

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Black Russian Recipe

You're just a few simple steps away from this classic cocktail made with vodka and coffee liqueur.

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Lemon Drop Shot

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Lemon Drop Shot Recipe

These delicious shooters go down a little too easy, so make sure to pace yourself!

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Kamikaze Shots

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Kamikaze Shots Recipe

A combination of vodka, triple sec, and lime juice are guaranteed to get the party started. Pace yourself– these shooters are strong!

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Root Beer Float

Credit: Michael Kraus; Styling: Roscoe Betsill

Root Beer Float Recipe

This root beer float is for grown ups only! The secret here is root beer flavored vodka, which gives this dessert drink some great flavor.

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Basic Jello Shots

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Basic Jello Shots Recipe

You may be tempted to use straight vodka, but don't! By using flavored vodka instead of regular, you can create delicious flavors that actually make Jello Shots taste good! Imagine that.

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Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka

Credit: Stephen Devries; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka Recipe

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Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler

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Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler Recipe

With or without the vodka, this sweet-tart drink deserves a spot at brunch.

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Purple People Eater Boozy Ice Pops

Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Purple People Eater Boozy Ice Pops Recipe

These purple pops are like a childhood popsicle, but way better. Blueberry is the predominant flavor here, but the Blue Curacao adds a bit of lemon and orange and there’s a nice hit of vodka. Use a food processor or a blender to mix the preserves and lemonade for a smooth blueberry syrup. 

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Skinny Strawberry Vodka Lemonade

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Skinny Strawberry Vodka Lemonade Recipe

Looking for a sweet cocktail without all the sugar? This low-carb drink is sweet and tangy with a subtle flavor of fresh strawberry. If strawberries aren’t your favorite, you could substitute any summer fruit here for a spiked light cocktail. 

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Sweet Tea-Vodka Slushee

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Sweet Tea-Vodka Slushee Recipe

Say hello to the ultimate summer sipper. For this cooling, boozy concoction, we took the idea of a sweet tea and vodka on-the-rocks to the next level by blending it into a delightful adult slushee. The recipe here serves 2, but is easily multiplied to produce more cocktails for friends (you can’t sip on one of these beauties and not share). You can use store-bought sweet tea, or make your own so that you can better control the level of of sweetness. 

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Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Pops

Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Pops Recipe

You’ve finally got an excuse to order those plastic ice pop sleeves from Amazon. These boozy ice pops are like a grown-up Dole Fruit and Juice bar and perfect for a hot summer night or your next backyard barbecue. 

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Salty Dog Slushes

Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Salty Dog Slushes Recipe

The Salty Dog has no flaws, but turning it into a slush makes it the most wonderful and festive summertime cocktail ever. The bitterness, sweetness, salt, and booze come together to make a subtly sweet pink and frosty delight. You can even keep frozen grapefruit juice cubes in the freezer and whip a few drinks up to amaze friends (or yourself).  If you’d like to experiment, this would also make a mighty fine granita. 

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