Vodka in the starring role: 3 irresistible drinks you can mix at home
Are you looking for simple vodka drinks that you can also prepare at home? We have selected three popular vodka cocktails – Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan and Sex on the Beach. For each one, you will find the required ingredients, a simple method and product recommendations for mixing your drink.
Vodka has long been one of the most popular spirits in the world. Mixed drinks have played a major role in its popularity and are enjoyed even by the most demanding connoisseurs. Vodka is like a blank canvas on which you can paint the wildest and boldest colours when creating a cocktail. We would not dare to choose the three best mixed drinks, but we have prepared 3 truly excellent recipes. Which one will become your favourite?
1. Moscow Mule – a ginger drink served in a copper mug
In the 1940s, vodka was largely unknown and, above all, unwanted in America. This was a major concern for John G. Martin, who owned the Smirnoff brand at the time. It all began one evening when John Martin stopped by the Cock N’ Bull bar, where he stored unsold bottles of the spirit.
The owner of the bar was facing a similar problem – he could not sell his ginger beer. While trying to clear out their stock, they came up with the idea of mixing the unwanted ginger beer with the unwanted vodka and serving the drink in copper mugs. It did not take long for the drink served in a copper mug to become popular. This is how the Moscow Mule was born, helping to make vodka famous throughout America.
Read more about its history in the article: Moscow Mule – the history of the legendary cocktail and the original recipe
What you need for a Moscow Mule:
- 50 ml vodka
- 50 ml lime juice
- 100 ml Thomas Henry ginger beer
- ice
How to make a Moscow Mule:
Squeeze the lime juice into the bottom of a glass, ideally a copper mug. Fill it with ice, add the vodka and ginger beer, and stir with a spoon. Garnish the rim with a slice of lime and serve. Your legendary vodka and ginger beer cocktail is ready.
2. Cosmopolitan – the recipe for Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic drink
One version of the Cosmopolitan’s origin story credits bartender Cheryl Cook, who is said to have created it in Miami Beach around 1970. She made the drink for women who wanted to look stylish while holding a Martini glass. Cheryl was reportedly looking for a drink that was delicious and visually appealing but not too strong. She therefore combined vodka, lime juice, triple sec and cranberry juice.
The Cosmopolitan became one of the iconic cocktails of the 1990s, particularly after it became the favourite drink of Carrie Bradshaw in the television series Sex and the City. This elegant and refreshing drink earned its place among classic cocktails around the world.
What you need for a Cosmopolitan:
- 40 ml vodka
- 20 ml Cointreau orange liqueur
- 20 ml fresh lime juice
- 100 ml cranberry juice
How to make a Cosmopolitan:
Pour the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice into a shaker filled with ice. Shake all the ingredients thoroughly and strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish the Cosmopolitan with a strip of orange or lime peel.
3. Sex on the Beach – a colourful vodka cocktail recipe
One of the most frequently told stories about the origin of Sex on the Beach involves a bartender named Ted Pizio. In Florida in 1987, a campaign was launched to promote peach liqueur, and local bars were challenged to create new drinks using the ingredient. Ted combined peach liqueur, vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice. The cocktail became very popular among tourists, particularly because of its memorable name, which referred to “fun on the beach”, something closely associated with Florida.
What you need for a Sex on the Beach:
- 40 ml vodka
- 20 ml peach liqueur, such as Bols Peach
- 50 ml cranberry juice
- 50 ml orange juice, although pineapple juice is sometimes used instead
How to make a Sex on the Beach:
Pour the cranberry juice into a tall glass filled with ice. Add the remaining ingredients – vodka, peach liqueur and orange juice – to a shaker filled with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain the mixture into the glass containing the cranberry juice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
