Since vodka is the most neutrally flavored spirit of all the hard liquors, you'll find a number of vodka mixers. Due to its relative flavorlessness, vodka is ideal for mixing with an array of flavors, but the mixers are important to pump up the flavor.
Juicy Vodka Mixers
When mixing vodka with juice, add 1½ ounce vodka to 6 ounces of juice. Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice in order to blend the juice and the vodka effectively. Then, strain into a glass filled with ice. If you'd like, drop in a creative garnish.
- Pineapple juice
- Orange juice
- Carrot juice
- Tangerine juice
- Mango juice
- Cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail
- White grape juice
- Apple cider
- Apple juice
- Beet juice
- Tomato juice
- Vegetable juice such as V-8
- Cherry juice
- Pomegranate juice
- Goji berry juice
- Açai juice
- Pear cider
- Guava juice
- Pog (pineapple-orange-guava)
- Rose's lime juice
- Lemonade
- Raspberry lemonade
- Strawberry lemonade
- Limeade
- Orangeade
- Fruit punch
- Mandarin juice
- Cranapple juice
- White cranberry juice
Things to Mix With Vodka to Make a Sour
Sours are a classic form of cocktail that combines a sweetener with a sour juice and a strong spirit. The sweetener can be a liqueur, simple syrup, honey, agave nectar, pure maple syrup, or a flavored simple syrup. To make a sour, combine ¾ ounce of the sour juice, ¾ ounce of the sweetener, and 1½ ounces of vodka. Use regular vodka unless a flavored vodka is noted. You can also add a foamy cap to your sour by adding an egg white and vigorously dry shaking (shaking without ice) for a full 60 seconds and then adding ice and shaking to chill before straining into your glass.
Grapefruit Juice
For these cocktails, use ¾ ounce each of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and the sweet element. Shake in a cocktail shaker with 1½ ounces of vodka and ice and strain into either a chilled cocktail glass without ice, or a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime or lemon wedge.
- Grapefruit juice + agave nectar + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + simple syrup + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + ginger simple syrup + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + honey + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + simple syrup + berry flavored vodka
- Grapefruit juice + raspberry liqueur + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + orange-flavored liqueur + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + melon flavored liqueur + citrus flavored vodka
- Grapefruit juice + maraschino liqueur + citrus flavored vodka
- Grapefruit juice + peach schnapps + citrus flavored vodka
- Grapefruit juice + Hpnotiq + a splash of grenadine + vodka
- Grapefruit juice + chili infused simple syrup + vodka
Lime Juice
With citrus juice, freshly squeezed is always best. If you do use a commercially squeezed lime juice, make sure it's pure lime juice that doesn't contain sweetener. You can use key limes or Persian limes for these cocktails. Use ¾ ounce each of the freshly squeezed lime juice and the sweet element with 1½ ounces of vodka. Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice, strain into a rocks glass filled with ice or a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a lime wedge or peel.
- Lime juice + ginger simple syrup + vodka
- Lime juice + simple syrup + citrus vodka
- Lime juice + orange-flavored liqueur + vodka
- Lime juice + crème de cassis + vodka
- Lime juice + maraschino liqueur + vodka
- Lime juice + Chambord + vodka
- Lime juice + blue curaçao + vodka
- Lime juice + honey + blueberry flavored vodka
- Lime juice + anisette liqueur + vodka
- Lime juice + peach schnapps + vodka
- Lime juice + watermelon schnapps + vodka
- Lime juice + Midori + vodka
- Lime juice + chili infused simple syrup + vodka
Lemon Juice
Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best for cocktails. For a special treat, use freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice. Use ¾ ounce each of lemon juice and the sweet element with 1½ ounces of vodka. Shake cocktails in a shaker with ice and serve either up in a chilled cocktail glass or over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon peel, wheel, or wedge.
- Lemon juice + simple syrup + vodka
- Lemon juice + limoncello + citrus-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + limoncello + blueberry-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + ginger simple syrup + berry flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + amaretto + vodka
- Lemon juice + amaretto + ginger-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + orange-flavored liqueur + vodka
- Lemon juice + cinnamon infused syrup + apple-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + maraschino liqueur (½ ounce) + crème de violette (¼ ounce) + citrus-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + honey + ginger-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + Chambord + lavender-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + pure maple syrup + ginger-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + cinnamon schnapps + berry-flavored vodka
- Lemon juice + Frangelico + vodka
Sour Cherry Juice
Sour cherry juice (tart cherry juice) makes interesting sour cocktails. Shake ¾ ounce each of the juice and sweet element in a shaker with 1½ ounces of vodka and ice, and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice or a chilled cocktail glass to serve straight up. Garnish with a citrus peel or a cherry.
- Sour cherry juice + simple syrup + vodka
- Sour cherry juice + simple syrup + lime-flavored vodka
- Sour cherry juice + amaretto + vodka
- Sour cherry juice + orange-flavored liqueur + citrus-flavored vodka
- Sour cherry juice + ginger infused simple syrup + citrus flavored vodka
- Sour cherry juice + agave syrup + chili-infused vodka
- Sour cherry juice + cinnamon schnapps + citrus-flavored vodka
- Sour cherry juice + thyme infused simple syrup + vodka
- Sour cherry juice + honey + vodka
- Sour cherry juice + clove-infused simple syrup + vodka
- Sour cherry juice + agave syrup + citrus-flavored vodka
- Sour cherry juice + rhubarb liqueur + lime flavored vodka
Other Sour Juices
You can also enjoy other sour juices using ¾ ounce each of the juice and sweet element and 1½ ounces of vodka. Shake in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and strain either into a chilled cocktail glass or in a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Yuzu juice + ginger-infused simple syrup + vodka
- Yuzu juice + honey + vodka
- Yuzu juice + agave + vodka
- Yuzu juice + orange-flavored liqueur + vodka
- Pomelo juice + simple syrup + vodka
- Pomelo juice + agave + vodka
- Pomelo juice + chili-infused simple syrup + vodka
- Pomelo juice + cinnamon schnapps + vodka
- Pomelo juice + limoncello + vodka
Herbs and Fruits to Muddle and Mix With Vodka
You can also muddle fruits and herbs in the bottom of a cocktail shaker before adding classic sour ingredients to make an alcoholic drink called a "smash." To make a smash, in a cocktail shaker, muddle the amount of the fruits or herbs noted below with 2 teaspoons of sugar or ½ ounce of a sweet element (liqueur, syrup, etc.). Then, add 2 ounces of plain vodka (unless otherwise noted) and some ice and shake to chill. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with the fruit or herb you've muddled.
- 7 mint leaves + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 5 blackberries + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 5 blackberries + 2 lime wedges + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 5 raspberries + ½ ounce coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka
- 1 thyme sprig + 5 blackberries + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 5 basil leaves + 2 lime wedges + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 2 cilantro sprigs + 2 lime wedges + ½ ounce agave syrup + chili-flavored vodka
- ½ cup cubed watermelon + 3 basil leaves + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 1 rosemary sprig + half of a peach + 2 teaspoons brown sugar + vodka
- 5 blackberries + 1 thyme sprig + ½ ounce amaretto + vodka
- Half of a nectarine + 5 basil leaves + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 3 strawberries + 1 lime wedge + 5 basil leaves + 2 teaspoons sugar + vodka
- 3 pitted cherries + 1 lemon thyme sprig + ½ ounce amaretto + vodka
- 1 thyme sprig + 2 lemon wedges + ½ ounce peach schnapps + vodka
- 2 jalapeño slices + 2 lime wedges + ½ ounce agave syrup + citrus flavored vodka
- ½ cup cubed cantaloupe + 4 mint leaves + ½ ounce honey + vodka
- ½ cup cubed honeydew + 1-inch piece of peeled gingerroot + ½ ounce simple syrup + vodka
- ½ cup cubed mango + 1 jalapeño slice + 1 lime wedge + ½ teaspoon sugar + vodka
- ½ cubed papaya + ½ ounce ginger simple syrup + vodka
Best Soda to Mix With Vodka
You can mix vodka with a soda using 6 ounces of soda or another fizzy element and 1½ ounces of vodka. Mix the drink in a highball or collins glass filled with ice, stirring gently with a spoon, and garnish with a citrus wedge or peel, or a cherry. Use unflavored vodka unless otherwise noted.
- Cola or diet cola
- Cola plus citrus flavored vodka
- Cherry cola
- Dr. Pepper
- Lemon-lime soda
- Lemon-lime soda with berry-flavored vodka
- Club soda
- Flavored seltzers
- Ginger ale
- Ginger ale + lime-flavored vodka
- Ginger beer
- Cream soda
- Orange soda
- Ginger beer + berry-flavored vodka
- Ginger beer + apple-flavored vodka
- Cream soda + orange-flavored vodka
- Orange soda + whipped cream flavored vodka
- Root beer
- Root beer + caramel flavored vodka
- Grapefruit soda
- Sparkling apple cider
- Hard seltzer
- Grapefruit soda + chili-infused vodka
Mixing Soda With a Vodka Sour to Make a Fizz
You can add a fizzy element to a sour to make a drink called a fizz. To build a fizz cocktail, make the sour as noted above (¾ ounce each of the citrus juice and sweet element and 1½ ounces vodka shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker), strain it into a collins or highball glass filled with ice, and fill to the top with the soda of your choice. Some interesting fizzes to try:
- Lime juice + simple syrup + vodka + ginger beer (Moscow mule)
- Lemon juice + amaretto + vodka + ginger beer
- Tart cherry juice + cinnamon schnapps + vodka + cola
- Lemon juice + simple syrup + vodka + club soda
- Lime juice + simple syrup + berry vodka + ginger ale
- Lime juice + maraschino liqueur + vodka + grapefruit soda
- Grapefruit juice + raspberry-flavored liqueur + vodka + club soda
- Lemon juice + Frangelico + vodka + ginger beer
- Yuzu juice + orange-flavored liqueur + cola
- Grapefruit juice + crème de cassis + citrus flavored vodka + lemon-lime soda
Mixing Soda With a Vodka Smash to Make a Fizz
You can also take any of the smashes above with muddled fruit or herbs and top them off to make a vodka fizz. For example, a mojito is a rum smash/fizz with muddled mint, lime, syrup, rum, and club soda. Make the smash as noted in the above section, and then strain them into a collins or highball glass filled with ice and top up with the soda. Some to try include:
- 5 blackberries + 2 teaspoons sugar + 1½ ounces citrus flavored vodka + ginger beer
- 2 thyme sprigs + 5 blackberries + 2 teaspoons sugar + 1½ ounces vodka + club soda
- 6 basil leaves + 2 lime wedges + 2 teaspoons sugar + 1½ ounces vodka + cherry-flavored seltzer
- 1 rosemary sprig + 5 raspberries + 2 teaspoons sugar + 1½ ounces vodka + club soda
- 2 jalapeño slices + 1 sprig cilantro + 2 lime wedges + ½ ounce agave syrup + 1½ ounces citrus-flavored vodka + unsweetened lime-flavored seltzer
- ½ cup cubed mango + 1 jalapeño slice + ½ ounce honey + 1½ ounces vodka + ginger beer
- 2 peach slices + 2 tablespoons brown sugar + 1½ ounces vodka + ginger beer
- 5 marionberries + 2 lime slices + 2 teaspoons sugar + 1½ ounces citrus flavored vodka + ginger beer
- 1 orange wedge + 1½ ounces vanilla flavored vodka + cream soda
- ½ cup cubed watermelon + 1½ ounces citrus-flavored vodka + lemon-lime soda
Liqueurs to Mix With Vodka and Soda
You can also mix liqueurs with vodka and soda to make sweet, fizzy drinks. In a highball or collins glass, mix ½ ounce of the liqueur, 1½ ounces of vodka and stir. Add ice and fill to the top with soda. Garnish with a mint sprig or a cherry. Some to try:
- Coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka + club soda
- Coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka + cola
- Coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka + ginger beer
- Coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka + cream soda
- Frangelico + vodka + root beer
- Maraschino liqueur + vodka + cola
- Orange-flavored liqueur + vodka + cream soda
- ¼ ounce each Chambord and coffee-flavored liqueur + vodka + club soda
- Amaretto + vodka + lemon-lime soda
- Cinnamon schnapps + vodka + sparkling apple cider
- ¼ ounce each crème de cacao and crème de menthe + vodka + club soda
- ¼ ounce each crème de violette and maraschino liqueur + citrus flavored vodka + lemon-lime soda
Bitters and Soda to Mix With Vodka
You can also add a few dashes of cocktail bitters with vodka and soda to make an interesting, aromatic cocktail. To do it, in a collins or highball glass, combine 1½ ounces vodka and 2-3 dashes of cocktail bitters. Stir and add ice. Fill to the top with soda. Some combinations to try:
- Peychaud's bitters + vodka + ginger ale
- Cardamom bitters + orange-flavored vodka + lemon-lime soda
- Cinnamon bitters + vodka + sparkling apple cider
- Mole bitters + orange-flavored vodka + cola
- Rhubarb bitters + berry-flavored vodka + club soda
- Orange bitters + citrus-flavored vodka + ginger beer
- Habanero bitters + vodka + grapefruit soda
- Chocolate flavored bitters + vodka + cream soda
- Cherry bitters + vodka + cola
- Ginger bitters + vodka + sparkling apple cider
Other Things to Mix With Vodka
Of course, there are other things to mix with vodka, too. Combine 6 ounces of liquid with 1½ ounces of vodka in a collins or highball glass filled with ice and stir.
- Kombucha
- 2 ounces shrub syrup + 4 ounces club soda
- Iced tea
- Tonic water
- Cocktail mixes such as bloody Mary mix or sweet and sour mix
- Dry vermouth (In a mixing glass, stir 2 ounces of vodka, ¾ ounce dry vermouth, and ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass to make a vodka martini).
- Iced tea
- Sweet tea
- Iced coffee
170+ Things to Mix With Vodka
Vodka is a versatile spirit for cocktails because it has such a neutral flavor. And with flavored vodkas, there are even more options for fun and interesting cocktails. So if you've got a bottle of vodka and a few other ingredients, you've got a party.
