17 Vodka Cocktails Because It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere

April 24, 2020

Vodka is a great spirit for many classic cocktails. These cocktail recipes use both regular vodka and flavored vodka, like lemon or pomegranate. Whatever kind of vodka you choose will taste delicious in these drinks. Recipes like Elderberry Sunset Cocktail and Tomato Jalapeño Bloody Mary are tasty, fun and the perfect drink to mix this weekend.

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Moscow Mule Cocktail

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This refreshing cocktail features a combination of vodka, tangy lime and ginger beer, a nonalcoholic carbonated ginger beverage similar to ginger ale. This cocktail is traditionally served in a copper mug. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2018

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Strawberry Shrub Cocktail

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You can easily multiply this strawberry shrub cocktail recipe to make a pitcher cocktail to serve a whole party: just muddle the strawberries, basil and lemon in a pitcher, then vigorously stir in the vodka, shrub, Campari and ice. Top each serving with seltzer. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

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Blackberry-Rosemary Vodka & Soda

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Blackberries give this vodka cocktail its gorgeous hue and jammy flavor. Use the leftover simple syrup to mix up drinks for friends or skip the vodka for a mocktail. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

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Bloody Mary with Shrimp

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This bright, vitamin-packed cocktail is eye-opening whether or not it's spiked with vodka. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June/July 2005

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Lemon-Orange Fizz

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This refreshing beverage adds sparkle to your summer evenings. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June/July 2005

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Elderberry Sunset Cocktail

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This refreshing cocktail calls for elderberry syrup--if you've tried trendy St-Germain elderflower liqueur, which is made from the same plant, the flavor of elderberry syrup is somewhat similar but not as floral. Stock up on the syrup for this cocktail and for your health--research shows that it can help you recover from a cold faster. (One brand, Sambucol, is widely available in supermarket supplement sections.) Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

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Spring Rhubarb Cocktail

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Turn happy hour into healthy hour with this cocktail that curbs carbs! The Rhubarb Syrup in this recipe has five times less sugar than traditional syrups, and by using club soda in the cocktail--instead of tonic water--there are fewer calories. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Peach-Mango Madras

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A madras is a cocktail mix of vodka and fruit juice. This version blends three different fruit juices with peach vodka, and is served over homemade ice cubes which are filled with finely chopped fresh mango. When buying mangos, give them a light squeeze. Look for fruits that give a little without being too squishy! Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Pomegranate-Citrus Fizz

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This refreshing cocktail is made with pomegranate vodka and citrus juices. It's delightfully fruity and fizzy and has under 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Basil Caipirioska Cocktail

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This easy low-alcohol cocktail keeps things fresh with whole limes and basil leaves. It's a twist on the caipirinha that subs white vermouth and vodka for the traditional cachaça, the fermented sugarcane liquor popular in Brazil, and features basil instead of the usual mint. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2018

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Tomato-Jalapeño Bloody Mary

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Make this garden-fresh Bloody Mary when summer tomatoes and peppers are at their peak. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2009

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Cran Razzy

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To keep calories in check, we like to use seltzer along with juice in drinks like vodka and cranberry. This version gets a raspberry twist with cranberry-raspberry juice and raspberries for garnish. For the prettiest garnish, start with big, plump fresh raspberries and freeze them yourself. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2009

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Pomegranate Cosmos

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Make the base for these pomegranate cosmopolitans ahead of time and shake individual cocktails “to order.” Or for individual drinks, combine 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) each pomegranate juice and vodka, 4 teaspoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon Cointreau, 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger juice and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2007

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Strawberry Chile Martini

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This beautiful strawberry martini cocktail recipe is an irresistible combination of sweet and spicy. Strawberries vary in sweetness and jalapeño chiles vary in heat, so once you've made this cocktail, take a sip and adjust to your taste. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2013

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Grape Sparkler

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Strained, pureed red grapes are the base for this sweet and tangy grape cocktail. If you have very sweet grapes, you might not need the full amount of honey. Taste as you go. For a special treat, freeze extra whole grapes ahead of time and float them in the drink along with the ice cubes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2009

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Pomegranate Champagne Punch

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For a nonalcoholic version, combine 2 1/2 cups seltzer and 2 cups pomegranate juice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2006

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Watermelontinis

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These refreshing summery drinks can be made with or without alcohol. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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