Citron Sipper Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/10/21
New Amsterdam Vodka Citron Sipper Cocktail
Westend61 / Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The citron sipper is a simple and refreshing cocktail that is a perfect summer beverage. It pairs the invigorating taste of citrus vodka with the fresh flavors of cucumber and cilantro. Once you add syrup and soda, you're left with a cool cocktail that definitely has a garden-fresh feel.

The recipe comes from New Amsterdam Spirits and was originally designed to feature their Citron Vodka. That flavor has since been discontinued, though the brand does offer a lemon and an orange vodka, both of which are great tasting and budget-friendly vodkas that would be a delight in this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 slices cucumber, divided

  • 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka

  • 1 pinch cilantro, plus more for garnish

  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup

  • 3 to 5 ounces lemon-lime soda, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 to 3 slices of cucumber.

  3. Add the vodka, cilantro, and simple syrup, then fill the shaker with ice.

  4. Shake well and strain into a chilled collins glass filled with fresh ice.

  5. Top with soda.

  6. Garnish with a cucumber slice and cilantro. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Any citrus vodka can be used in this cocktail. It's the most popular flavored vodka and the majority of vodka brands produce at least one option.
  • Quite often, "citrus" vodka refers to a blend of citrus fruits. You can certainly pour a vodka that features a lone fruit, including grapefruit, lemon, lime, or orange.
  • Fresh cilantro is best for cocktails. You can reduce the herb's flavor by tearing the leaves then adding them to the muddle. Remember that it's a very flavorful herb, so don't go overboard!

Recipe Variations

  • This is a perfect recipe to transform into a big-batch cocktail and serve by the pitcher. Make as much as you like, keeping the vodka to soda ratio somewhere around 1:4. For instance, to fill a 60-ounce pitcher filled with ice, begin with 1 cup of vodka and 4 cups of soda, sweetening it with 1/3 cup of syrup. Use a whole sliced cucumber and add a small sprig of cilantro to the muddle. Stir it up and adjust any ingredient as you see fit.
  • Good herbs to use as a substitute for cilantro include basil, mint, and sage. Each is mild in comparison to cilantro, so you can get away with a few leaves for a single cocktail and larger sprigs for a punch.

How Strong Is a Citron Sipper?

The standard strength for flavored vodka is 70 proof, though there are some 80-proof bottles out there. Either way, this is going to be a very mild cocktail, weighing in somewhere around 9 percent ABV (18 proof). That's perfectly normal for highball mixed drinks and it's actually lighter than sipping the average wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
210 Calories
0g Fat
29g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 210
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 19mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 5mg 23%
Calcium 30mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 247mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)