Best Vodka Cocktails

Clean, versatile, and endlessly mixable. These are the best vodka cocktails to order or make at home, from brunch classics to after-dinner sippers.

Espresso Martini cocktail made with vodka

Espresso Martini

vodka

Rich, bold, and caffeinated. A velvety blend of vodka, fresh espresso, and coffee liqueur with a beautiful crema on top.

Flavor Profile
sweetbitter
Glass: Martini glass
Moscow Mule cocktail made with vodka

Moscow Mule

vodka

A zippy, thirst-quenching mix of vodka, spicy ginger beer, and fresh lime juice, traditionally served in a copper mug.

Flavor Profile
spicyrefreshingsour
Glass: Copper mug
Bloody Mary cocktail made with vodka

Bloody Mary

vodka

A savory, spicy, and robust vodka cocktail featuring tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire, and bold seasonings.

Flavor Profile
spicyherbal
Glass: Highball glass
Cosmopolitan cocktail made with vodka

Cosmopolitan

vodka

A vibrant, tart, and fruity vodka cocktail with a beautiful pink hue, featuring cranberry and fresh lime.

Flavor Profile
soursweetrefreshing
Glass: Martini glass
Vodka Martini cocktail made with vodka

Vodka Martini

vodka

A crisp, clean spin on the classic martini, stirred cold with just a whisper of dry vermouth.

Flavor Profile
strongherbal
Glass: Martini glass
White Russian cocktail made with vodka

White Russian

vodka

A velvety, dessert-like sipper blending vodka, coffee liqueur, and a float of fresh cream.

Flavor Profile
sweetstrong
Glass: Rocks glass
Black Russian cocktail made with vodka

Black Russian

vodka

The White Russian's leaner cousin, just vodka and coffee liqueur over ice for a bold, bittersweet kick.

Flavor Profile
strongbitter
Glass: Rocks glass
Screwdriver cocktail made with vodka

Screwdriver

vodka

The simplest brunch classic: vodka and fresh orange juice over ice, bright and easy-drinking.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Sea Breeze cocktail made with vodka

Sea Breeze

vodka

A pink, beachy highball of vodka, cranberry, and grapefruit juice that drinks like summer.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Bay Breeze cocktail made with vodka

Bay Breeze

vodka

A sweeter take on the Sea Breeze, swapping in pineapple juice alongside cranberry and vodka.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Salty Dog cocktail made with vodka

Salty Dog

vodka

A tart grapefruit and vodka highball served in a salt-rimmed glass for a savory-sour finish.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Kamikaze cocktail made with vodka

Kamikaze

vodka

A sharp, citrusy shooter of vodka, triple sec, and fresh lime juice shaken ice cold.

Flavor Profile
sourstrong
Glass: Shot glass
Lemon Drop Martini cocktail made with vodka

Lemon Drop Martini

vodka

A sugar-rimmed, citrus-forward martini that tastes like the classic candy in cocktail form.

Flavor Profile
soursweet
Glass: Martini glass
Vodka Collins cocktail made with vodka

Vodka Collins

vodka

A tall, fizzy cooler of vodka, lemon, and soda water that stays light and endlessly refreshing.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Collins glass
Mudslide cocktail made with vodka

Mudslide

vodka

A dessert-like blend of vodka, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream shaken with cream until frothy.

Flavor Profile
sweetstrong
Glass: Rocks glass
Harvey Wallbanger cocktail made with vodka

Harvey Wallbanger

vodka

A retro screwdriver upgrade, floated with sweet, herbal Galliano for a fragrant finish.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Sex on the Beach cocktail made with vodka

Sex on the Beach

vodka

A fruity, easy-drinking party staple mixing vodka and peach schnapps with orange and cranberry juice.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Woo Woo cocktail made with vodka

Woo Woo

vodka

A simple, sweet-tart shooter-turned-cocktail of vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice.

Flavor Profile
sweetsour
Glass: Rocks glass
Blue Lagoon cocktail made with vodka

Blue Lagoon

vodka

A vividly blue, citrusy highball built on vodka and blue curaçao, topped with lemonade.

Flavor Profile
sweetsourrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Chocolate Martini cocktail made with vodka

Chocolate Martini

vodka

A dessert in a glass, blending vodka with rich crème de cacao for an indulgent, silky sip.

Flavor Profile
sweetstrong
Glass: Martini glass
Vodka Sour cocktail made with vodka

Vodka Sour

vodka

A clean, citrus-forward sour that swaps whiskey for vodka while keeping the classic balance.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Rocks glass
French Martini cocktail made with vodka

French Martini

vodka

A glossy, fruity vodka martini shaken with raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice.

Flavor Profile
sweetsour
Glass: Martini glass
Appletini cocktail made with vodka

Appletini

vodka

A tart, candy-green cocktail pairing vodka with crisp apple liqueur or schnapps.

Flavor Profile
sweetsour
Glass: Martini glass
Melon Ball cocktail made with vodka

Melon Ball

vodka

A bright, fruity highball combining vodka and melon liqueur with orange juice.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Bloody Caesar cocktail made with vodka

Bloody Caesar

vodka

Canada's answer to the Bloody Mary, built on vodka and briny Clamato juice with hot sauce and spice.

Flavor Profile
spicystrong
Glass: Highball glass
Cape Codder cocktail made with vodka

Cape Codder

vodka

A no-fuss New England highball of vodka and cranberry juice brightened with fresh lime.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Vodka Tonic cocktail made with vodka

Vodka Tonic

vodka

The simplest of highballs: crisp vodka lengthened with bittersweet tonic and a squeeze of lime.

Flavor Profile
bitterrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Long Island Iced Tea cocktail made with vodka

Long Island Iced Tea

vodka

A deceptively potent multi-spirit blend that tastes remarkably like sweetened iced tea.

Flavor Profile
soursweetstrong
Glass: Highball glass
Greyhound cocktail made with vodka

Greyhound

vodka

A stripped-back, bracingly tart highball of vodka and fresh grapefruit juice — clean, dry, and effortlessly refreshing.

Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Porn Star Martini cocktail made with vodka

Porn Star Martini

vodka

A boldly indulgent modern classic bursting with passion fruit and vanilla, served with a shot of prosecco on the side.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Martini glass
Lychee Martini cocktail made with vodka

Lychee Martini

vodka

Delicately floral and sweetly exotic, this vodka martini gets its signature perfume from lychee liqueur and fresh lychee juice.

Flavor Profile
sweetherbal
Glass: Martini glass
Dirty Martini cocktail made with vodka

Dirty Martini

vodka

A savory twist on the classic martini, spiked with briny olive brine for a bold, umami-laced depth.

Flavor Profile
strongherbal
Glass: Martini glass
Madras cocktail made with vodka

Madras

vodka

A pretty, pink vodka highball layered with sweet orange juice and tart cranberry — the well-balanced cousin of the Cape Codder.

Flavor Profile
sweetrefreshing
Glass: Highball glass
Balalaika cocktail made with vodka

Balalaika

vodka

A sharp, citrusy vodka sour — equal parts spirit, triple sec, and lemon — often called the Russian answer to the Sidecar.

Flavor Profile
sourstrong
Glass: Coupe
Vodka Buck cocktail made with vodka

Vodka Buck

vodka

A lively ginger highball — vodka, fresh lime, and ginger ale — lighter and softer than a Moscow Mule but just as refreshing.

Flavor Profile
spicyrefreshingsour
Glass: Highball glass