Vodka With Sprite And Cranberry
Total time: 2 minutes
Speaking of cranberry and cocktails, I have another option for you. Aside from being a summer drink, Vodka With Sprite And Cranberry is also a great mixed alcoholic drink for Christmas. The refreshing and fizzy nature of this beverage can make your day better.
The ingredient list is simple for this cocktail containing Sprite, as you only have to include two more components like Vodka and cranberry juice. There is also a mocktail option that omits Vodka if your family has little ones.
First, you mix the cranberry juice in a highball glass with ice. Next, add the Vodka and stir well before pouring the Sprite as a topper. Thanks to the cranberry, you feel that tanginess that mixes with a hint of bitterness. Sprite is the sweetener to reduce the effect of Vodka.
How Can You Enjoy Vodka
With Vodka, there are many interesting ways to enjoy it based on your preferences. If you want to feel the unadulterated nature of Vodka, I would suggest drinking it neat or on a rock .
Another way to drink Vodka chilled is by leaving the bottle in your freezer overnight. Since alcohol has a lower freezing temperature, your Vodka will come out super cold but not frozen.
However, there is a better way to enjoy this incredible drink, and that is becoming a part of cocktails. Vodka, with its signature dryness and grainy smell, is able to enhance other ingredients to create many unique mixes.
It Up: Garnishes And Clear Ice
You can make a Vodka Collins with no garnishes and it tastes great: but it looks like a glass of water. Heres how to really make it shine with garnishes:
- Add a lemon wheel and cocktail cherry. These small adders take the drink to the next level.
- Use clear ice! Clear ice is crystal clear ice cubes instead of cloudy ice from an ice tray. You can make it at home using a smaller cooler or a clear ice maker, and its the key to making an impressive drink. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.
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Use Simple Syrup Or Maple Syrup
Want to make a naturally sweet cocktail? The sweetener we like to use best for our cocktails is actually not the traditional simple syrup: its maple syrup! Why? Maple syrup sweetens the drink more gently, and it adds a subtle nuance in flavor. Every time Alex and I taste test the two, we prefer the maple. Simple syrup has a more straight-forward, clear flavor: you can use it here to be even more classic.
The Savannah Banana Martini
Named for the Georgia baseball team, the Savannah Bananas, this sweet concoction is a rich, decadent way to cool off a sweltering Lowcountry night.
The owner of the minor league team, Jesse Cole, allowed Joseph’s Restaurant and Lounge in Savannah to use the name for the drink. The restaurant sells it as a way to raise money for local charity Backpack Buddies, which provides nutritional meals for children.
Makes 1 cocktail
1.5 ounces New Amsterdam Vodka.75 ounces Combier Creme de Banana1.5 ounces heavy cream
How to Make ItAdd all ingredients into a shaker cup and shake vigorously for 30 seconds this allows the heavy cream to fluff. Strain all ingredients into a martini glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings over the top of the cocktail.
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The Best Vodka Cocktails
Vodka is a godsend for cocktails. Its a strong spirit without an overpowering edge that easily accommodates other flavors.
As the mixologists adage goes: start with something tasty, add vodka, and youve got a cocktail. And although many people perceive it as a flavorless spirit, top-shelf brands have quite a bit of nuance and character. Quality vodka is a must when you are creating a home bar.
As the most popular alcoholic drink in the US, vodka is used in hundreds of cocktail recipes. Below, youll find 27 of our favorites so you never run out of ideas.
Need a bottle? Here are the best places to buy alcohol online.
What Does Vodka Taste Like
To the uninitiated, Vodka might come off as too peppery at the tip of your tongue. After this unpleasant sensation ends, your mouth will feel a bit dry and dehydrated. This is what people call dryness when they describe alcohol.
That experience is different from those who are experts at tasting Vodka. Just in fragrance alone, you can smell a slight hint of sweet grain. When the liquid touches your taste buds, you can tell if the drink is of high or low quality just by the burning.
If the quality is low, it burns a lot. On the other hand, high-quality Vodka gives a very smooth feel that goes straight down your mouth.
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Our Top Choices For Christmas Cocktails With Vodka
Here are our favorite vodka cocktails for the holidays. These are the ones I serve year in and out and they always get a great reception.
Oh and by the way, if you want to give the gift of a cocktail this holiday season, make sure to check out our recipe for Candy Cane Infused Vodka. It makes a wonderful hostess gift.
Cosmopolitan: Vodka Cranberry Juice Triple Sec Lime Juice
The Cosmopolitan is a slightly more advanced vodka cocktail. In addition to 2 oz vodka, 3/4 oz cranberry juice, and 3/4 oz lime juice, youll need 3/4 oz triple sec . I recommend Cointreau for the best tasting Cosmo.
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it three quarters with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain the liquid into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist or a lime wheel.
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How Do Breweries Make Vodka
In order to know how you can enjoy Vodka, you must first understand the core of the drink, which is the grains. Most breweries nowadays use corn, rye, or wheat. They contain a high sugar level that kickstarts the fermentation process alongside the yeast.
Once the fermentation is complete, the liquid will go through a combination of distillation and filtration. The more vigorously breweries distill the liquid, the purer the Vodka becomes. Before the drink goes into a bottle, it usually gets diluted with water to reduce the alcoholic level.
While most Vodka bottles are very plain, there are special versions with extra flavorings to make them stand out. They include chocolate, fruit, and vanilla-flavored Vodka.
Festive Christmas Cocktails With Vodka
Christmas is just around the corner and that can only mean one thing: its time for some festive holiday cocktails with vodka!
Whether you are looking for a delicious hot drink to enjoy on a cold winter night by the fire, or something refreshing to sip as you go carolling through your neighborhood, we have got you covered.
Read below for 30 of our favorite Christmas-themed drinks made with vodka.
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Other Types Of Gimlets
There are a few different ways to make a gimlet! Here are our favorite ways:
- Gin Gimlet The classic! Its bright and botanical from the gin.
- French Gimlet A gimlet with elderflower liqueur! Three ingredients combine make a refreshing and chic cocktail.
- Basil Gimlet A gin gimlet with fresh basil! This version features lime juice, gin, and muddled basil, which gives it a fresh peppery essence.
Dreamy Dorini Smoking Martini
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog
Bartending legend Dale DeGroff started making Smoky Martinis in the 90s, replacing the classics dry vermouth with blended scotch. For this extra-smoky version, his protégé Audrey Saunders swaps in vodka for the gin to showcase the peatiness of a single-malt scotch whisky. A dash of the anise-flavored liqueur Pernod lends additional complexity.
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Thats A Wrap On Easy Vodka Drinks
I hope you find a new favorite vodka cocktail to make from this list. Each one of these are so creative and fun. Cheers!
Ive shared before how much I enjoy creative and fun mixed drinks, and vodka cocktails are the perfect empty canvas. From flavored vodka to fruity concoctions, to martinis to cosmos and other classics, there are so many different ways to make easy vodka drinks. To make things even easier for you, I am sharing all
Vegan Egg White Substitute
Are you into vegan cooking and want to make an egg white foam? Dont worry: you can use aquafaba! Aquafaba is the liquid thats in a can of chickpeas. Because its starchy, it can work as a binder similar to an egg.
Two tablespoons of aquafaba is equal to one egg white, you can use 2 tablespoons of aquafaba in this recipe as an equivalent to the actual egg white. It makes for the same type of foam!
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The Vodka Martini Recipe
Two ingredients are all youll need to make this cocktail. While a gin Martini is arguably more classic, the vodka Martini was a hit in the 90s and early 2000s, when the spirit was at the top of its game. To make this version , simply stir five parts vodka and one part vermouth together in a mixing glass with ice, strain into a Martini glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Bitters Are Optional In A Vodka Sour But Add Flavor
Of course, the vodka sour works without bitters. But for the very best vodka sour, we recommend adding a few drops of bitters! Angostura bitters are popularly used in cocktails to add a complex and bitter undertone. They take a drink from one-note to extraordinarily complex with just a few drops!
In this drink, we added the bitters to the cocktail itself . This adds lots of flavor: and it also adds a good amount of color! The bitters make this vodka sour a beautiful peach color. If you skip the bitters, the drink is clear.
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How To Make A Vodka Collins
Like most highball cocktails, you can build a Vodka Collins in the glass! That means no need for dirtying a cocktail shaker. Heres what to do :
Blue Smoke Bloody Mary
Some of the best vodka cocktails are Bloody Mary variations. This one includes tangy pickled okra brine to brighten the bold and smoky flavors from Worcestershire sauce, Zatarain’s powdered crab boil, black pepper, horseradish, celery seeds, chipotle hot sauce, and soy sauce. Serve with a savory brunch dish like this cheesy strata.
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Three Key Tips For A Fabulous Homemade Cranberry Vodka Infusion
#1 Tip when making cranberry orange-infused vodka remember to thoroughly clean your bottles and jars. Its best to start with everything squeaky clean.
#2 Tip for gifting cranberry-infused vodka, you dont need to blow your budget on the vodka. Top shelf isnt necessary. Go with a good mid-range vodka, or whatever brand you or your recipient enjoy.
#3 Tip is to use a spoon to nip a little taste to see if your cranberry vodka infusion is ready. If not, check again the next day! Oh, if you think a second nip is needed, to be doubly sure, use another clean spoon!
#4 Bonus Tip is knowing your fruit or vegetable/herbs when making vodka infusions at home. Firmer winter fruits typically take longer than soft summer fruits in homemade infused vodka flavors.
Kentucky Peach Vodka Cocktail
Its not unusual to see cocktails with a dash of alcohol and then a whole slew of tasty extras.
Theres nothing wrong with that, but if you want something with a kick, these watered-down drinks just dont cut it.
This cocktail, though, uses vodka and bourbon, so you know its intense!
Not only that, theres no fruit juice in here to take away from the fact this is a cocktail. So instead, youll use peach-flavored vodka to keep it nice and boozy.
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Vodka Cocktails To Try
Vodka has been America’s most popular spirit since 1976 for a reason: It’s incredibly versatile. Clear, colorless, odorless, and flavorless, vodka pairs well with just about any flavor profile you can think of, making it an essential bottle to have on hand if you’re entertaining at home. That neutrality also means it takes well to infusions with ingredients like citrus fruits, herbs, and even jalapeño peppers. We’ve collected our favorite vodka cocktails from bartenders and chefs around the country. Stock up your cabinet with your favorite vodka and start mixing.
How To Make A Vodka Gimlet
What does a vodka gimlet taste like? Its tangy and balanced, with a smoother flavor than a gin gimlet . Here are the basic steps for how to make a vodka gimlet :
- Shake: Add vodka, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker, and shake with ice.
- Strain: Pour into a glass. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
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What Is The Best Cocktail
Martinis rank as the best cocktail for numerous reasons. Martinis taste delicious, come in countless flavors, and are aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Youâll often find that the bar staff at independent restaurants get very creative with their martini recipes, as you can add so many ingredients to make them look and taste festive.
How To Make A Vodka Sour
The vodka sour is quick and easy to make: the only time involved is juicing the citrus and separating out the egg white! Here are the basic steps :
The technique above is a fancy way to get that beautiful frothy white foam on top. Keep reading for how
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How Much Vodka Is In A Shot
The amount of vodka per shot and the quantity of standard drinks you can make from one bottle of vodka are incredibly common questions. Lets dive into the specs:
An American shot of liquor served at a bar is usually 1.5 ounces, although some are as much as 2 ounces. Theres no legal regulation determining what makes a shot, but the US standard is 1.5 oz. A typical shot glass holds 44 ml, to be exact.
Keep in mind that the average cocktail also contains between one and a half to two ounces of average proof liquor. So if youve had four shots of vodka, youve likely had the equivalent of four mixed drinks.
Christmas Cocktails With Vodka Final Thoughts
There are a lot of different types of cocktails that can be made with vodka.
From festive cozy drinks to refreshing ones, this article covered festive holiday cocktails with vodka you should try if you dont want to drink wine or beer at your next party!
To make any one of these delicious drinks, all it takes is some alcohol and the right mixers.
We hope our list inspires you to come up with new recipes for yourself or something fun for your family during the holidays!
And as always, we would love to hear which cocktail was your favorite in the comments below.
Happy Holidays and happy drinking from us here at Cocktails With Class
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Peanut Butter Cup Martini
I know a lot of you have been waiting for this one since I mentioned peanut butter in the intro. Sorry to keep you waiting!
Ive been on the lookout for International Delight Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Creamer for ages. Its so popular, and it sells out fast.
If you see it, stock up! If you cant get ahold of any, try making your own peanut butter creamer with this recipe instead.
Then, you just add vodka and shake. How easy is that?
The white Russian came after the black, and its as easy as adding cream to the mix. Its pretty easy to make vegan if you use coconut cream.
This version, though, moves away from the coffee flavors and focuses on rich, dark chocolate.
Youll use chocolate vodka and Irish Cream rather than coffee liqueurs. Its a little like the mudslide from above, only without the ice cream.
The Very Best Mixers For Vodka
Some of the best mixers for vodka are:
- Cranberry juice
- Flavored seltzer waters
Always choose high quality mixers from brands like Fever-Tree, Q Mixers, or Belvoir Farms for the best-tasting drinks.
You can also mix vodka with: ginger ale, cola, grapefruit soda, citrus flavored sodas, root beer, tomato or vegetable juice the list is practically endless for a liquor with a neutral flavor profile!
Two ingredient vodka cocktails are ok, but I think every single one of these can be improved with one small addition: fresh citrus!
This is especially true if youre mixing with a sweet soda or juice. A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice will cut through the sweetness and make the drink taste far more balanced and also more fresh.
Even a savory Bloody Mary needs a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to liven it up and tone down the bite of the alcohol.
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