Vodka, lime, sugar, and ice are four versatile ingredients that should be included in every well-stocked bar's selection of basic liquors and mixers. With these simple ingredients, you can create an array of delicious mixed drinks.
Cocktails to Make With Vodka, Lime, Sugar and Ice
Vodka is a versatile spirit and generally a crowd pleaser. For mixing in drinks, it's best to keep your sugar in the form of simple syrup, which mixes well with alcohol, mixers, and juices you'll use in your cocktails. Keep fresh limes on hand and squeeze the juice when you need it for the best tasting cocktails.
Vodka Gimlet
A gimlet is traditionally made with London dry gin, which is an aromatic spirit because it's infused with botanicals. However, you can replace the gin with the more neutrally flavored vodka in a gimlet for a tasty sweet and tart take on the classic cocktail. While the classic gimlet presentation is straight-up in a cocktail glass, you can also serve it on the rocks or straight up in a rocks glass.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Vodka Rickey
The vodka Rickey is another twist on a gin drink. It uses the gimlet recipe above but adds club soda, another must-have when keeping your bar stocked.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 3 ounces club soda
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, syrup, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Add the club soda. Stir.
- Garnish with the lime wedge.
Moscow Mule
A vodka company (Smirnoff) invented the Moscow mule, which is a combination of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. While the traditional recipe doesn't call for sugar, some recipes do because some people prefer a sweeter cocktail. Test it both ways - with and without the simple syrup - and see which you like best.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup (optional)
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, syrup, and vodka.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into a mule cup filled with ice.
- Add the ginger beer. Stir.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Vodka Soda Lime
Sweetness in cocktails is a matter of personal taste. While some people prefer their vodka-soda-lime cocktails as dry as a bone, others like a little bit of sugar. If you want to sweeten up your vodka soda, you can add some simple syrup to the mix.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 4 ounces club soda
- Lime wedge
Instructions
- In a collins glass, combine the vodka and syrup. Stir.
- Add the ice and club soda. Stir.
- Squeeze the lime wedge into the drink and drop it in as garnish.
Cosmopolitan
The classic girls' night out drink, the cosmopolitan, contains its sugar in the form of orange liqueur such as Cointreau. Some bartenders also add sugared rim on the glass. To sugar the rim, run a lime wedge along the rim of the glass and dip the glass in sugar. The classic Cosmopolitan recipe calls for vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
Caipiroska
You've probably heard of the caipirinha, which is a Brazilian rum-based cocktail. Try its cousin, the caipiroska, which is prepared with vodka.
Ingredients
- 6 lime wedges (from one lime)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle the lime wedges with sugar.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add the vodka and stir.
Key Lime Pie Martini
This simple drink uses vanilla flavored vodka and a sugared rim for a tasty confection.
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge
- Superfine sugar
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed key lime juice
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of the chilled glass.
- Spread the sugar in a thin layer on a plate. Dip the damp glass rim in the sugar.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, lime juice, vanilla vodka, and heavy cream.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain into the prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Vodka Mojito
If you don't have rum and you're craving a mojito, then vodka will do in a pinch. The vodka provides a nice, clean backdrop for the lime juice, sugar, and mint.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces vodka
- Ice
- 3 ounces club soda
- Lime wedge and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup.
- Add the lime juice, vodka, and ice. Shake.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Add the club soda and stir.
- Garnish with mint and lime wedges.
Many Possibilities for Vodka, Lime, and Sugar
Keep vodka, lime, sugar and ice on hand, and you'll be prepared anytime someone stops by unexpectedly for cocktail hour. You can make simple drinks, or, if you have other ingredients on hand such as fresh fruits or juices, add those to the above cocktails to bring in new flavor elements.
