6 Summer-Inspired Vodka Cocktail Recipes
Don’t put away that vodka bottle just because it’s hot outside
Summer is the best season for cocktails. Here's why: there are endless ways to enjoy fruity, herbal, bubbly and icy flavours and textures. What makes an ideal summer cocktail? In short, it should be cool, crisp and refreshing. Prepare a tall highball with sparkling water or ginger ale. Take a handful of fresh mint from the garden. Blend up summer fruits like watermelon and ripe strawberries. And what better spirit to pair than vodka?
Vodka has been the most popular spirit since 1976 and for good reason: it's incredibly versatile. Clear, colourless, odourless and (relatively) tasteless, vodka fits pretty much any flavour profile you can imagine, making it an essential bottle to have on hand if you're entertaining at home. This neutrality also means it lends itself well to infusions with ingredients like citrus, herbs and even jalapeño peppers.
So, get inspired.
These is our pick of vodka cocktails for you to try now.
To be honest, we started getting thirsty as we created this list…
HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT VODKA COCKTAIL?
CITRUS BREEZE
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 44ml Ciroc citrus
- 118ml Grapefruit juice
- 60ml Club soda
- 4 Mint leave
- Glass: Highball or rocks
HOW TO MAKE IT
Add all ingredients into a highball filled with ice. Gently stir and garnish
TOKYO MULE
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 50ml of Nikka Coffey Vodka
- 90ml of Ginger Beer
- 15ml of Lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Nikka special twist: Add a hint of wasabi
HOW TO MAKE IT?
In a mug, stir the lime juice and the wasabi. Fill up the mug with ice cubes. Pour Nikka Coffey Vodka. Top with ginger beer and gently swirl once with a spoon.
WILD STRAWBERRIES FILM
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 36ml Ketel One Vodka
- 15ml Fresh grapefruit juice
- 0.33ml Simple syrup
- 3-4 Strawberries
- 2 Dashes orange bitters
- Egg white (optional)
HOW TO MAKE IT
Muddle strawberries and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a strawberry slice and mint leaf.
BLACK COW SPIKED CLASSIC VANILLA MILK SHAKE
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 50ml Black Cow Vodka
- 355ml Vanilla ice cream
- 237ml Gloriously whole milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- Whipped cream and fresh fruit.
HOW TO MAKE IT?
Blitz the ice cream, milk and vanilla extract in a blender until combined, thick and fluffy. Add the Black Cow vodka and stir well. Pour into glass. Top with whipped cream followed by strawberry slices blueberries and a cherry.
THE RHUBARB ROYALE
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 30ml Konik’s Tail
- 12.5ml Velvet Falernum liqueur
- 2 x 20cm Sticks of raw rhubarb
- Dash of lemon juice
- Champagne to top up
Glass: Martini
HOW TO MAKE IT
Run small stick of raw rhubarb around the rim of the Martini glass and dip rim in sugar crystals. Place the muddled second piece of rhubarb, Konik’s Tail, Velvet Falernum and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and mix well. Strain immediately into the glass top up with the champagne (do not mix) and replace strip of rhubarb on rim as decoration.
L'ORBE-RRY
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 60ml L'Orbe Vodka x Caviar
- 7.5ml Raspberry vinegar
- 7.5ml Crème de Cacao Blanc
- 6 Raspberries
HOW TO MAKE IT?
Muddle 3 raspberries in the shaker before adding L’Orbe, the raspberry vinegar and the crème de cacao blanc. Shake with ice, and fine strain into a coupette. Garnish with 3 raspberries on a stick.
SASHA SAYS:
"Vodka sometimes gets a bad reputation for being a boring spirit, but I see it more as a blank canvas on which other interesting cocktail ingredients, from seasonal fruits to chai tea to the most obscure liqueurs, can find a home and even thrive.
The Moscow Mule is my first choice when it comes to vodka cocktails at any time of year, but it's even more refreshing when the temperatures start to rise. It's so simple that you don't really need a recipe - just pour ginger beer with vodka and squeeze in half a lime. The copper mug isn't necessary, but I swear the drink doesn't taste right without it. Cheers to these great vodka drinks!
"