7 Vodka-Based Drinks You Can Make at Home

Vodka is known for its simple, refreshing flavour that lends itself well to cocktails. Its mild taste makes it easy to mix with various other drinks, that's why you'll find that it is often a common ingredient in the many cocktails you enjoy at parties, such as a Bloody Mary or a Screwdriver.

If you'd like to know how to prepare such drinks in your own home, we've got you covered. Here is a list of the most popular vodka-based drinks and the essential steps in mixing them so you can make them on your own.

All these are quite easy to make, provided that you have a quality brand of vodka on hand. In our opinion, you can never go wrong with a Ciroc Premium French Vodka but you may have a vodka you like better so stick with that if you don't want to splash out on a different brand.

1. Apple Martini

Also called an Appletini, this drink is famously known for its electric green colour and boasts a refreshing and fruity taste. It should only take you five minutes to make this classic drink and four ingredients: 50ml of vodka, 50ml of apple juice, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

First, mix all your ingredients and then add them to a cocktail shaker filled with crushed ice. Mix it thoroughly until the shaker begins to feel cold to the touch and then pour the liquid into a martini glass afterwards. Don’t forget to add a slice of green apple to the top of the glass as a garnish.

2. Vodka Martini

Just like the appletini, only needs four ingredients and five minutes of your time are needed to make this impressive cocktail.

It is known for its crisp and clean flavour with a slightly sweet citrusy aftertaste. What you need to do first of all is to mix the ingredients together. 2 ounces of vodka, a three-quarter ounce of dry vermouth, and 2 dashes of bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake the mixture vigorously, straining out all the solid particles afterwards. Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass, add a lemon twist to garnish for that citrusy aftertaste. If you prefer a mildly salty finish just add an olive instead of a lemon twist.

3. Screwdriver

Don't be fooled by its masculine-sounding name; the screwdriver is a favourite with the ladies. It packs a lot of flavours with its perfect blend of refreshing citrus undertones and vodka.

Here's how you prepare a Screwdriver in just 10 minutes or less. Gather two oranges, one clementine, 50ml of vodka, 2 dashes of bitters, and orange wedges. First, squeeze the oranges and clementine to extract the juice.

Now all you need to do is pour the vodka into a tall glass filled with ice, add the juice, and then mix. Add a dash or two of bitters, and then decorate the glass with an orange wedge for garnish.

4. Bloody Mary

If one were made to describe the taste of this famous vodka cocktail, you would probably have some trouble finding the right words to say. Perhaps the best way to describe it would be to say it's an explosion of diverse flavours—sweet, salty, spicy, tangy, and smoky.

Because of the tomato juice, it also has what the Japanese call 'umami,' that particular rich, savoury flavour that further deepens the deliciousness of the drink. While its bright red colour might make it seem like a complicated drink to make, don't be intimidated; it's actually quite simple to make.

First, gather the following ingredients: 50ml of vodka, 125ml of fresh tomato juice, 25ml sherry, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, one quarter tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 2 drops of hot sauce, celery salt and fennel seeds, and some salt and pepper to taste.

Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice, mix all the ingredients together and give it a very good and vigorous shake. Then strain the mixture and pour into a tall glass with a bit of ice. You can put a lemon wedge or a small cherry tomato on the top of the glass for garnishing.

5. Vodka Tonic

This is perhaps the fastest cocktail you can make—just three minutes can yield you a single serving of this drink that is often considered the vodka counterpart of the popular gin tonic cocktail.

What you need are the following: 2 ounces of vodka, 5 shots of tonic water, freshly squeezed lime juice, and lime slices.

Simply, combine the best quality vodka you can get your hands on and the lime juice in a cocktail glass filled with ice. Pout in the tonic water. Garnish the glass with a few lime slices and there you have it! You've made a refreshing drink like a pro

6. Cosmopolitan

Summer's not complete if you don't indulge in this delightfully sweet, fruity cocktail that's also a bit invigorating, thanks to the sharp notes added by the vodka.

One good thing about this drink is that you can adjust its taste to be more on the sweeter side by adding a bit more juice, or on the intoxicating side by adding more vodka.

You just need four ingredients for this drink: 50ml of vodka, 50 ml cranberry juice, 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur, and 1 tablespoon of lime juice.

Mix the vodka and the liqueur first in a cocktail shaker, adding the lime juice and the cranberry juice afterwards. Shake the mixture vigorously to make sure the ingredients blend well together and then strain into a martini glass. Don’t forget to style the glass with some orange zest!

6. White Russian

If you're obsessed with coffee aside from vodka, here's something you'll love: a White Russian. This is a rich and creamy drink that’s so delicious you’ll probably be craving it all the time once you’ve tasted it for the first time and the fact that it’s so simple to make just makes it even better.

To prepare this creamy drink, think of the number 3. You'll need three ingredients: 50ml of vodka, 25ml of coffee liqueur, and a tablespoon of single cream. You can also make this in just three simple steps. One, pour the vodka into a large glass filled with ice. Two, add the cream and the coffee liqueur. And three, stir and serve!