45 Best Vodka Cocktails
These vodka cocktails will shake (or stir) up your mixed drink game.
When it comes to mixed drinks, vodka seems to be everyone's go-to liquor. It goes down easy and tastes decent with pretty much anything. So we decided it was time to (literally) shake things up a bit with our go-to classic vodka drinks. With simple, classic cocktails—vodka martini, vodka tonic—to creative creations (boozy Butterbeer punch, anyone?), these vodka cocktails will be new party favorites starring your fav liquor.
From Moscow mules to Bloody Marys, vodka is the perfect blank canvas for sweet, sour, and savory flavors. Usually made from grain or potatoes, vodka is ideal as a base because of its neutral flavor. But not all vodka is built the same. If you're stirring up a simple martini or any other cocktail with minimal ingredients, quality is key. Whether you're drinking it straight or mixed, check out our top vodka brands to add to your bar cart.
Vodka is also our favorite for infusing with all kinds of flavors. Our list includes sour patch watermelon-infused vodka for our boozy sour watermelon slushies, Reese's Pieces-infused vodka (yes, really) for a drunken Peanut Butter cup cocktail, and even pickle-infused vodka perfect for Bloody Marys.
These vodka cocktails will shake (and stir) up your mixed drink game, sure, but what exactly is the deal with shaken or stirred martinis? According to bartenders, you only shake a cocktail when it includes non-alcoholic ingredients (citrus, cream, egg whites, herbs, fresh fruit, etc.), while stirring is saved for alcohol-forward cocktails (think martinis and Manhattans). IF you forget, don't worry. There might be a change in texture, cloudiness, and mouthfeel if you mix it up (no pun intended), but the flavor shouldn't change too drastically.
Classic Vodka Martini
Just three simple ingredients are in this classic cocktail. Quality vodka and vermouth are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. (You can save that for our Peanut Butter Cup Martini 😂)
Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.
Perfect Cosmopolitan
And just like that, this amazing throwback cocktail brings us right back to Sex and the City. Tart and citrusy with a real punch, it's a classic for every at home bartender to know.
Get the Perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.
Moscow Mule
Aside from tradition, the copper mugs offer a scientific benefit to this classic cocktail too: The copper gives chilled drinks an extra-cool sensation. And you just might feel pretty cool yourself.
Get the Moscow Mule recipe.
Espresso Martini
This buzzy '90s throwback has surged in popularity the last few years, and we are all the happier (and more caffeinated) for it. We love it as a pre-game drink to keep us going all through the night.
Get the Espresso Martini recipe.
White Russian
This is a delicious cocktail every home bartender needs to know. It tastes like a chocolate boozy milkshake, and only requires three easy ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Get the White Russian recipe.
Lemon-Poppy Seed Drop
Combining our love of sweet-tart lemon drop martinis and spring-y lemon poppy seed muffins, this cheery cocktail is the perfect balance of citrus and nutty poppy seed flavor. If you'd like to enhance the nuttiness of the poppy seeds, simply toast them in a hot dry pan for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, then cool before mixing with your sugar.
Get the Lemon-Poppy Seed Drop recipe.
Orange Crush
Developed in Ocean City at the Harborside Bar & Grill, it’s no wonder this refreshing cocktail has found popularity outside of Maryland’s borders. Intensely juicy and citrus-forward, the drink was originally made with orange-flavored vodka, although regular vodka works just as well.
Get the Orange Crush recipe.
Dalgona Martini
A bit of vodka and Baileys bring the booze to this perky South Korean whipped coffee drink that took the world by storm. It's an instant pick-me-up.
Get the Dalgona Martini.
Vodka Tonic
A similar vibe to a vodka soda, vodka tonic is a little bit sweeter. Adding citrus is a nonnegotiable for us. We love lemons and limes, but blood orange slices add a fun pop of color and zing too!
Get the Vodka Tonic recipe.
Dill Pickle Bloody Mary
We've got four words for you about our latest Bloody Mary hack: Dill. Pickle. Ice. Cubes. Your Bloody Marys will never be the same.
Get the Dill Pickle Bloody Mary recipe.
Apple Cider Martini
The cool autumn weather deserves a fall cocktail. Turn your favorite martini into an apple cider martini and never look back! The butterscotch schnapps is worth looking for—it really puts this apple cocktail on a whole other level.
Get the Apple Cider Martini recipe.
Long Island Iced Tea
Vodka is just one of the five alcohols in this notoriously boozy drink that somehow still manages to taste incredible and resemble the taste of a lemony sweet tea. Tip: A homemade sour mix with lemon, lime, and grapefruit adds a bit more complexity that takes this drink up several notches.
Get the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.
Creamsicle Punch
Take your love of Creamsicles to another (boozy) level! Plus, this punch is perfectly shareable, making your next brunch a delicious breeze to serve. Tip: Swap in orange sorbet for even more citrusy flavor.
Get the Creamsicle Punch recipe.
Drunken Peanut Butter Cups
These martinis use Reese's Pieces to infuse the vodka so that they taste just like your favorite peanut butter cup. This takes a chocolate martini to a whole new level.
Get the Drunken Peanut Butter Cups recipe.
Mudslide
A glass rimmed with chocolate and filled with a creamy drink of vodka, Baileys, and Kahlúa is our idea of a dessert cocktail. It's more than just an excuse to have booze for dessert, but it's the only one we need. Try it with our Mini Baileys Cheesecakes!
Get the Mudslide recipe.
Boozy Butterbeer Punch
The famous Harry Potter-themed drink, Butterbeer, gets a boozy upgrade with this punch. We solemnly swear we are up to no good when we have one of these.
Get the Boozy Butterbeer Punch recipe.
Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade
Basil-infused vodka? Sign us up. This lemonade cocktail brings out the sweetness of the herb and turns the spirit a vibrant green.
Get the Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade recipe.
Flamin' Hot Bloody Marys
We love anytime a classic Bloody Mary can morph into an even spicier, savory cocktail. Looking for ways to use up that bag of Cheetos? Try these Flamin' Hot Chicken Tenders!
Get the Flamin' Hot Bloody Marys recipe.
Crème Brûlée Martini
These martinis taste just like a crème brûlée with very little effort. Be sure to keep the caramel in the freezer until you're ready to serve! The caramel will eventually melt into your drink, making it extra-indulgent. 😍
Get the Crème Brûlée Martini recipe.
Deep Blue Vodka Punch
If Shark Week is basically your Christmas, then consider this our gift to you. Be sure to prepare the "lifesaver" well in advance so that it's fully frozen. As the ice cream melts, it will create foamy white waves, making the punch extra creamy. You just might need a bigger punch bowl.
Get the Deep Blue Vodka Punch recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
Taylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more. She was previously a freelance editor on the food team for Good Housekeeping, where she also contributed entertainment and culture pieces as a freelance writer. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and a lifelong love of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, testing out a new pasta recipe, or rewatching one of her favorite shows.
