Balalaika
A sharp, citrusy vodka sour — equal parts spirit, triple sec, and lemon — often called the Russian answer to the Sidecar.
Kamikaze
A sharp, citrusy shooter of vodka, triple sec, and fresh lime juice shaken ice cold.
Balalaika
Kamikaze
Base
vodka
vodka
Glassware
Coupe
Shot glass
Flavor Notes
sour, strong
sour, strong
Strong?
Which should you pick?
The Balalaika and Kamikaze share a very similar flavor profile — both are bright and citrus-forward and boozy and spirit-forward. The deciding factor here is the base spirit (vodka vs. vodka) and how each is served, so go with whichever spirit appeals to you more.