12 Essential Cocktail Recipes With Vodka

Vodka might just be the most versatile cocktail spirit around.

However, it’s also one of the most underrated, with people’s experiences of cocktail recipes with vodka spoiled by bottom-shelf bottles and over-sweet mixers.

So, once you’ve checked out our roundup of the best vodka for cocktails, let’s bring vodka properly into the spotlight, with a list of 12 cocktails that will truly let your vodka sing.

Classic cocktail recipes with vodka

Vodka Martini

What better way to start than with the classics? And what could be more classic than the classic Vodka Martini recipe?

There are many different ways to combine the simple combo of vodka and vermouth so for a list of variations check our our collection of easy Martini recipes.

Pornstar Martini

Embrace your adventurous side and  mix yourself up a deliciously fruity Pornstar Martini recipe.

Try it at home with our premixed Passionfruit Martini bottled cocktail:

Bloody Mary

This list wouldn’t be complete without a reverential nod to that hangover cure of kings, the Bloody Mary.

The Bloody Mary is the epitome of pre-noon cocktail making.

We love a spicy cocktail recipe here at the Society, so we like our Bloody Marys as strong and as spicy as we can take.

Here’s a priceless piece of Cocktail Society wisdom for you: a decent approximation of a Bloody Mary can be scrounged together from any aeroplane drinks menu.

One can of pre-spiced tomato juice, a mini bottle of vodka, a handful of ice and a wedge of lemon if you’re flying fancy.

Helpful to know ahead of that return flight from Alicante.

Summer vodka cocktail recipes

Nothing beats a good cocktail on a hot summer afternoon. To get as refreshed as humanly possible, you should aim for a cocktail that’s poured over a hefty handful of ice.

Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule, originally devised in the 40s in a swanky New York hotel, is a good start. Pour all your ingredients into an ice-filled copper mug if you have one, or glass if you don’t, give them a stir and enjoy. 

Long Island Iced Tea

If you’re searching for something equally refreshing but with a bigger kick, punt yourself across the East River and get your hands on a Long Island Iced Tea.

It’s a fierce five spirit blend – exceptionally tasty but not for the faint-hearted, so be cautious if you’re mixing up a big batch!

Fancy vodka cocktail recipes

Vodka Sour

We don’t know about you, but we’re just getting back into the swing of hosting parties after our lockdown imposed hosting shutdown.

If you’re looking for a showstopper vodka cocktail that’ll get your guests feeling glamorous, look no further than a Vodka Sour.

Tart, sweet and made silky smooth by an egg white (or a spoonful of aquafaba if you avoid eggs), this drink is easy to make, tastes great and looks dead classy if you garnish it with a Maraschino cherry or a candied lemon wedge. 

French 76

Another way to give your get-together some glam is to throw some fizz into the mix.

The French 76 is a vodka twish on the classic French 75 cocktail – a drink that was invented some time during WWI.

It was named after the Soixante-Quinze (seventy-five in French) artillery canon, as a confrontation with either is likely to put you flat on your back. 

Shaken vodka cocktail recipes

If you’re looking for a vodka-based excuse to pull your cocktail shaker off its shelf, we fully support you.

Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan recipe is a delicious shaken vodka cocktail, with a citrus sweetness and a cranberry tartness that demands to be delicately sipped from a chilled martini glass. 

Appletini

In keeping with the cosmo’s fruity theme, vodka also makes an appearance in the crowd-dividing Appletini recipe.

It’s a name that pops up when people hit Google to find out “which drinks should you never order in a bar??”, but we think there shouldn’t be a scrap of shame attached to enjoying whatever cocktail tickles your fancy!

So fill up that glass with apple Schnapps and shake to your heart’s content. 

Simple vodka cocktail recipes

White Russian

It goes without saying that everybody on the Cocktail Society team enjoys taking the time to mix our favourite fancy cocktails.

But not every vodka cocktail needs loads of effort to end up great.

If you’re searching for something simple, you can’t go wrong with a White Russian!

Devised by a Belgian bartender for an American ambassador, the White Russian is a delectably creamy, deceptively simple and deliciously sweet vodka cocktail. 

Greyhound

If the White Russian sounds a bit too sickly for you, another simple vodka cocktail is the wonderfully named Greyhound.

Tart, bright grapefruit juice makes up the bulk of the Greyhound.

Fill a tall glass with cubed ice, add your vodka, top up with grapefruit, give it a stir and you’re good to go! A quick and easy vodka cocktail. 

Flavoured vodka cocktail recipes 

With so many flavoured vodka options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin!

If you’re a cocktail aficionado, or just a bold novice, why not take a classic cocktail and try twisting it with a flavoured vodka?

Making unexpected pairings and just seeing what happens is part of the fun of mixology.

Vanilla vodka and fresh orange? We’d try it.

Caramel vodka and tart fruit juice? Give us a sip.

Pear vodka and cold tea? Could be great.

Cocktails are about making playful connections – you never know what deliciousness might be just around the bend unless you’re willing to take some risks! 

If you’re looking for something more straightforward, you can take this recipe for Watermelon Basil & Soda straight from the goose’s mouth for a crisp, elegant summer cocktail.

Absolut also have some great recipes on their website that show the best way to pair their flavoured vodkas.

We particularly enjoyed this Strawberry Spritz! Simple, tasty and easy to scale up to punch bowl quantities. 

Want more cocktail recipes with vodka?

We hope you’ve been inspired by one of these vodka cocktail recipes.

But if you’re looking for the easiest way to get the tastiest drinks, why not treat yourself to one of our vodka bottled cocktails or cocktail kits?

A simple way of getting all the glam with none of the faff!