Vodka may be the leading spirit in terms of consumption, but vodka cocktails typically don’t get a lot of love from mixologists. We’ve seen quite a few creative vodka cocktails in recent months, and have rounded up five for National Vodka Day on Oct. 4. So raise a glass to King Vodka this Sunday—Cheers!
Mojo Rising
(shown atop)
1 ¼ oz. Guillotine Heritage barrel-aged vodka
¼ oz. Sweet vermouth
½ oz. Ginger syrup
1 oz. Blood orange juice
¾ oz. Lemon juice
Spicy homemade tincture (clove, anise, cinnamon)
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake. Pour into a rocks glass and garnish with blood orange slice and maraschino cherry.
The mixologists at Katana in West Hollywood, CA, created this recipe.
Toast to the Coast
1 ½ oz. Humboldt organic vodka
¾ oz. Chareau Aloe liqueur
½ oz. Lo-Fi dry vermouth
4 drops Alley 6 Candy Cap Bitters
Barspoon Marshall’s honey syrup
Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass for 30-45 seconds, then pour in a double rocks glass over a big cube. Garnish with jasmine.
Alicia Walton, bartender at The Sea Star in San Francisco, created this recipe.
Ocean Bleau
1 oz. Coconut-infused Manifest vodka
½ oz. Combier Le Bleu orange liqueur
½ oz. Velvet Falernum
1 oz. Pineapple
1 oz. Coconut water
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
The mixologists at One Ocean Resort & Spa in Atlantic Beach, FL, created this recipe.
Arizona Sunset Cocktail
2 oz. Grey Goose L’Orange vodka
1 oz. Lemon juice
1 oz. Cranberry juice
1 oz. Agave syrup
1 Jalapeño slice
Muddle jalapeño in mixing tin, then fill tin with ice. Add vodka, lemon juice, cranberry juice and agave syrup. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a jalapeño slice.
The mixologists at Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson, AZ, created this recipe.
Apricot Collins
2 oz. Black Infusions apricot vodka
½ oz. Busnel Calvados
1 oz. Lime
½ oz. Simple syrup
Bar spoon Apricot jam
Fill shaker with ingredients and dry shake hard. Add ice and shake again and pour into a highball. Finish with a splash of tonic water and fill with soda, garnish with a lemon twist.
The mixologists at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills created this recipe.
