Vodka, Lime and Sugar Cocktails With Ice: 8 Divine Drinks

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.

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 superfine sugar
• 2 ounces vodka
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle the lime wedges with sugar.
2. Add the vodka ice and stir.

Vodka Gimlet

A gimlet is traditionally made with 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 up in a cocktail glass, you can also serve it on the rocks or chilled in a rocks glass.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a cocktail glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
3. Add ice and shake to chill.
4. 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
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• 3 ounces club soda
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
2. Add the ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Add the club soda. Stir.
4. 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 sugar--and see which you like best.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, sugar, and vodka.
2. Add the ice and shake to chill.
3. Strain into a mule cup filled with ice.
4. Add the ginger beer. Stir.
5. 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 sugar.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
• 2 lime wedges
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• 4 ounces club soda

Instructions

1. In a collins glass, muddle the lime wedges and sugar.
2. Add the vodka and stir to dissolve sugar.
3. Add the ice and club soda. Stir.

Cosmopolitan

The classic girls' night out drink, the cosmopolitan, contains its sugar on the rim. To sugar the rim, run a lime wedge along the rim of the glass and dip the glass in sugar.

Ingredients

• 1 lime slice
• 2 tablespoons super fine sugar
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ¾ ounce orange liqueur
• 1½ ounces citron vodka
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• Ice

Instructions

1. Chill a cocktail glass.
2. Run the lime slice around the rim of the glass and dip the rim in sugar. Reserve the lime wedge.
3. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, orange liqueur, vodka, and cranberry juice.
4. Add ice and shake to chill.
5. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with the reserved lime slice.

Key Lime Pie Martini

This simple drink uses vanilla flavored vodka and a sugared rim for a tasty confection.

Ingredients

• 1 lime wedge
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed key lime juice
• 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• Ice
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass.
2. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the chilled glass.
3. Spread the sugar in a thin layer on a plate. Dip the damp glass rim in the sugar.
4. Pour the sugar that remains on the plate into the cocktail shaker.
5. Add the lime juice, vanilla vodka, and heavy cream.
6. Add ice and shake to chill.
7. Strain into the prepared martini glass.
8. Garnish with a mint sprig.

If you love the taste of this cocktail, you might enjoy these other vanilla vodka drinks.

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
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 3 lime wedges + 1 for garnish
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• 3 ounces club soda
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the sugar and three lime wedges.
2. Add the vodka and ice. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Add the club soda and stir.
5. Garnish with mint sprig and remaining lime wedge.

Simple Vodka, Lime, Sugar and Ice Cocktails

Using superfine sugar is a good alternative if you don't have simple syrup on hand and don't feel like making it. Just give the cocktail a little extra shaking to make sure it dissolves in the drink completely. The result is a tasty sweet, tart, strong cocktail.