15 Essential Vodka Cocktails

Watch Now: Get Inspired by our Favorite Vodka Cocktails

If you think vodka cocktails are limited to vodka sodas and martinis, come with us on a tipsy journey through the wide world of vodka-based cocktails to learn just how versatile this underrated spirit really is.

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Vodka Martini

The Spruce Eats / Ali Redmond

Vodka-based martini variations abound. There's no shortage of recipes to mix up. Yet there is only one true vodka martini, and it is unbelievably simple and perfect just the way it is. All you need for this drink is vodka, dry vermouth, and bitters (plus a garnish like a lemon peel, if you'd like), making it nothing more than the Classic Gin Martini with a vodka base. It's crisp, clean, and the best way to show off the top-shelf vodkas in your bar.
02 of 15

Post Meridiem

The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin

This crushable summer spin on the Vesper Martini uses different proportions to lower the proof and adds club soda for effervescence. Lillet Blanc, a fortified wine, takes center stage in this drink and adds notes of honey and orange, and gin brings a host of botanical notes to the party. If you love to sip on Aperol spritzes or gin and tonics when temperatures soar, consider this light and fizzy cocktail for your next summer soirée.
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Espresso Martini

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

An ideal after-dinner drink, the Espresso Martini is a subtly sweet and lightly bitter delight. While there are a few recipes available, you'll enjoy the double-hit of coffee flavor in this one. It mixes vodka with a coffee liqueur like Kahlua and a shot of cold espresso. White crème de cacao adds just a touch of chocolate that gives it a little more dimension, but you can always leave it out if you prefer.
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Apple Martini

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

One of the most popular fruit martinis, it's hard to resist the taste of a well-made Apple Martini, also known as an Appletini. While you may be familiar with the bright green version, there are many variations on this fun cocktail. The recipes range from those that use green apple schnapps to ones with a drier profile, featuring apple liqueur or brandy and dry vermouth.

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The Best Bloody Mary

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Sunday morning brunch would not be complete without a great Bloody Mary. This vodka and tomato juice highball is super savory, and it can be tailored to fit your exact taste, whether you crave a spicy kick in the taste buds or an umami bomb. It is also a popular "hair of the dog" hangover drink, providing a soft landing for those who may have overdone it the night before (not that we would know what that's like).
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White Russian

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

The Dude abides in this easygoing, 3-ingredient cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. A variation of the Black Russian (an even simpler drink that omits the cream), the White Russian is a delicious albeit sneaky drink, so smooth you'll barely notice you're drinking alcohol. Sit back and enjoy the meditative quality of the cream swirling into the deep, dark coffee liqueur as you slowly sip the evening away.
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Vodka Tonic

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

A simple soda highball offers the ultimate refreshment. The Vodka Tonic takes top honors in this category. It also makes a perfect dinner companion because the ingredients cleanse the palate between bites. Choose a high-quality tonic water that you enjoy drinking plain, as it plays a major role in this cocktail.
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Moscow Mule

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

The Moscow Mule is a simple drink initially created to introduce Americans to vodka in the mid-20th century. It has had a recent brush with fame as a new generation is discovering the appeal of this snappy cocktail (the shiny copper mug this drink is classically served in doesn't hurt the drink's appeal either). While many people choose to pour ginger ale, an authentic Moscow mule features the spicier ginger beer.

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Madras

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

While vodka plus a single variety of fruit juice is a very popular cocktail category, the Madras and similar drinks mix not one, but two fruit juices with vodka. These are known as "trios," and they're quite tasty. In the madras, you'll pair sweet orange and tart cranberry juices with vodka. If you want to enhance it with a third fruit, pour a flavored vodka instead. Citrus, raspberry, and cucumber are all excellent choices.
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Lemon Drop Martini

The Spruce Eats / Qi Ai

Vodka is the perfect spirit for sweet martinis, and the Lemon Drop Martini is one of the best. It's elegant, easy, and has a sweet-tart flavor that will wake up your taste buds. The keys to this drink are to use fresh ingredients and find a balance between sweet and sour. Everyone will have a slightly different idea of what that is, so you'll want to adjust the lemon juice and simple syrup to taste.
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Campari Cocktail

The Spruce Eats / Qi Ai

Vodka is so versatile that it even works in a bitter cocktail. The Campari Cocktail is a fantastic choice that you can enjoy before any meal. Campari is a well-known bitter aperitif, and this cocktail is very simple, allowing that complex bitterness to take center stage. For fans of bitter cocktails like the Negroni, this cocktail is a beautiful, stripped-down alternative.
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Screwdriver

The Spruce Eats / Ali Redmond

Many vodka cocktails are heavy on the fruit, and highballs like the Screwdriver are nothing more than spiked fruit juice. From brunch to happy hour, it's great throughout the day. Of course, fresh-squeezed orange juice is preferred and creates a better screwdriver, though it's not a requirement.

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Cape Codder

The Spruce Eats / Haley Hazell

You might know it better as a vodka cranberry, but this deep pink mixed drink is traditionally called the Cape Codder (or Cape Cod cocktail if you really like alliteration). It's a satisfying and refreshing mix that is ideal for a quick happy hour. The recipe is quite simple, and the combination of vodka and cranberry juice is sure to please.
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Sea Breeze

The Spruce Eats / Karen Hibbard

Add some grapefruit juice to your vodka cranberry to create an invigorating Sea Breeze. It's a member of that famous vodka-juice highball family and as easy as any of the others. You don't need a lot of grapefruit juice, either, though it is best with the fresh-squeezed citrus. One grapefruit is more than enough for a few drinks.
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Zipper

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Simple, refreshing, and kissed with sweet fruits, the Zipper Cocktail is a stunning little sipper. It's a short drink made with equal parts vodka, Chambord (a black raspberry liqueur with a Cognac base), and lemon-lime soda, though you can make it as tall as you like. Enjoy it any time of day. It's particularly well-suited for happy hour and makes a great brunch pitcher drink with more soda.

In conclusion, vodka is any bar's ultimate versatile and indispensable spirit. Its transparent essence harmonizes seamlessly with myriad flavors, spanning the spectrum from sweet to savory and dry to spicy. With its presence felt in countless cocktail recipes, each boasting unique characters, ingredients, and styles, vodka emerges as the go-to spirit capable of crafting the perfect cocktail every time.