Cocktails · Vodka
Vodka Mixed Drinks7 Easy Two- and Three-Ingredient Recipes (With Zero-Proof Twins)
What to mix with vodka: seven easy vodka drinks with two or three ingredients, exact ratios and a zero-proof twin for each. No shaker needed.
4 min read7 drinks ⇄ 7 twins ↓
The easiest vodka mixed drinks need only two or three ingredients and no shaker: pour vodka over ice and top it with a mixer. A good rule of thumb is 1½ to 2 oz of vodka to about 4 oz of soda, tonic, juice or lemonade, plus a squeeze of citrus to keep it from tasting flat.
Below are seven simple vodka drinks, a mixer chart so you can invent your own and a zero-proof twin for each one. Want something fancier? The vodka cocktails page covers the classics, like the Moscow mule and the cosmopolitan.
What Can You Mix With Vodka?
Almost anything cold and non-alcoholic. Vodka is neutral, so it takes on whatever it is mixed with, and the mixer decides the drink. Fizzy mixers give a light, refreshing drink, juice gives a fruitier one and tea or lemonade give something in between.
| Mixer | Resulting drink | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Club soda | Vodka Soda | Lime wedge |
| Tonic water | Vodka Tonic | Lime, mint |
| Orange juice | Screwdriver | Orange slice |
| Lemonade | Vodka Lemonade | Mint, lemon wheel |
| Pineapple juice | Pineapple Fizz | Splash of soda |
| Ginger ale | Vodka Buck | Lime, ginger |
| Iced tea | Vodka Iced Tea | Lemon wheel |
| Cranberry juice | Cape Codder | Lime wedge |
The Basic Ratio: 1 Part Vodka to 3 Parts Mixer
Every drink on this page follows the same formula: 1 part vodka to about 3 parts mixer, over plenty of ice. In a tall glass that is usually 1½ to 2 oz of vodka and 4 to 6 oz of mixer. Use a jigger so every drink tastes the same.
Measure it. A jigger keeps every drink consistent: 1½ to 2 oz is a standard pour.
7 Easy Vodka Mixed Drinks
Vodka Soda
The lightest vodka drink there is: no sugar, very few calories and a clean, cold taste. Squeeze the lime wedge in rather than just dropping it.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 12%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6¼ oz
The pour · 6¼ oz
Vodka Soda
Lime Tea Spritz
Vodka, soda water and lime.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wheel
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wheel
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the vodka and lime juice.
- 2Top with chilled club soda and stir once.
- 3Garnish with a lime wheel.
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the tea and lime juice.
- 2Top with chilled club soda, add the salt and stir once.
- 3Garnish with a lime wheel.
How the swap works
Chilled tea gives the drink the dry, slightly bitter bite that vodka brings, and salt makes it taste fuller.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Vodka Tonic
Use more tonic than you think: about three parts tonic to one part vodka. Choose a fresh bottle, since flat tonic tastes dull.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minLight · 9%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 8 oz (1 cup)
The pour · 8¼ oz (1 cups)
Vodka Tonic
Cucumber Tonic
One part vodka to three parts tonic.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and mint
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and mint
Method
- 1Fill a glass with ice and add the vodka.
- 2Top with chilled tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a lime wedge.
Method
- 1Fill a glass with ice and add the cucumber water and lime.
- 2Top with chilled tonic and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a cucumber ribbon.
How the swap works
Tonic is already bitter and dry, so cucumber and lime fill in vodka's clean, cool character.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Screwdriver
Vodka and orange juice, and the juice is the whole story. Squeeze it fresh and the drink tastes bright instead of like a carton.
Orange juice from a carton is sweeter and flatter than fresh, so one orange per glass is worth the effort.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 12%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6¼ oz
Screwdriver
Fresh Orange Sparkler
Vodka and fresh orange juice.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange slice
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange slice
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the vodka.
- 2Top with fresh orange juice and stir once.
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the orange and lemon juice.
- 2Top with club soda and a pinch of salt and stir once.
How the swap works
Without vodka the orange juice can taste flat and sweet, so lemon and soda give it acidity and sparkle.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Vodka Lemonade
Tart, cold and almost too easy to drink. Use real lemonade rather than a sweet mix, and add a mint sprig.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CollinsBuilt2 minLight · 10%
CollinsBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 5½ oz
The pour · 6 oz
Vodka Lemonade
Sparkling Mint Lemonade
Tart lemonade, vodka and mint.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheel and mint
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheel and mint
Method
- 1Fill a collins glass with ice and add the vodka.
- 2Top with lemonade and stir.
- 3Garnish with a lemon wheel and mint.
Method
- 1Slap the mint to release its oil and add it to a glass of ice.
- 2Add the lemonade and top with club soda.
- 3Stir and garnish with a lemon wheel.
How the swap works
Club soda cuts the sweetness and mint adds the cool freshness that spirit would otherwise supply.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Vodka Pineapple Fizz
Pineapple juice with a little lime and a splash of soda for lift. It tastes tropical without being heavy.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt3 minLight · 10%
HighballBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 7½ oz
The pour · 7 oz
Vodka Pineapple Fizz
Pineapple Ginger Fizz
Pineapple, lime and a splash of soda.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishPineapple wedge and frond
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishPineapple wedge and frond
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the vodka, pineapple and lime juice.
- 2Top with club soda and stir once.
- 3Garnish with pineapple.
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the pineapple, lime and ginger syrup.
- 2Top with club soda and stir once.
- 3Garnish with pineapple.
How the swap works
Ginger syrup adds the warm kick of alcohol, and extra soda keeps the drink light.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Vodka Buck
A mellow cousin of the Moscow mule, made with ginger ale instead of ginger beer and a squeeze of lime.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 11%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6½ oz
The pour · 6 oz
Vodka Buck
Ginger Lime Buck
Vodka, lime and ginger ale.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and a slice of ginger
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and a slice of ginger
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the vodka and lime juice.
- 2Top with ginger ale and stir once.
- 3Garnish with lime and ginger.
Method
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice and add the lime juice and ginger syrup.
- 2Top with ginger ale and stir once.
- 3Garnish with lime and ginger.
How the swap works
Ginger syrup doubles up on the spice that makes a buck work, and lime stops it tasting like plain soda.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Vodka Iced Tea
Brew the tea strong and chill it completely before mixing; weak or warm tea makes a watery drink.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CollinsBuilt3 minMedium · 10%
CollinsBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 7 oz
The pour · 8 oz (1 cup)
Vodka Iced Tea
Lemon Iced Tea Spritz
Strong chilled tea, lemon and vodka.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheel
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheel
Method
- 1Fill a collins glass with ice.
- 2Add all the ingredients and stir until the glass is cold.
- 3Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Method
- 1Fill a collins glass with ice and add the tea, lemon and syrup.
- 2Top with club soda and stir once.
- 3Garnish with a lemon wheel.
How the swap works
The tea is already the drink; a splash of soda gives it the lift and the lighter feel a spiked iced tea has.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
How to Make Any Vodka Drink Taste Better
- Use lots of ice. A full glass of ice melts slower and keeps the drink colder, so it dilutes less.
- Add citrus. A squeeze of lime or lemon brightens every mixer.
- Chill the vodka. Keep the bottle in the freezer and the drink stays cold longer.
- Pour the mixer last, and gently. Tilt the glass for fizzy mixers so they keep their bubbles.
- Fresh beats bottled. Fresh juice makes a bigger difference than a pricier vodka.
Which Vodka for Mixed Drinks?
Any clean, mid-priced vodka works, since the mixer covers the differences. Save a premium bottle for vodka martinis, where you taste the spirit. For a lighter take on the same idea, see vodka seltzer.
Make Them Zero-Proof
Every one of these keeps the mixer and the citrus, so it is the vodka you need to replace. Chilled tea gives dryness and a little backbone, and a pinch of salt makes the whole drink taste fuller. For more on the method, read the guide to how to make mocktails, or browse the mocktail recipes and easy cocktail recipes.
Saving this round?
Pin it for the next party — every drink and its twin will be right here.
Last call
Questions from the bar
Q1What can you mix with vodka?
Almost any soft drink or juice: club soda, tonic, lemonade, orange juice, cranberry, pineapple, ginger ale or iced tea. Use about 1 part vodka to 3 parts mixer and add a squeeze of citrus.
Q2What is the best mixer for vodka?
There is no single best one. Club soda gives the lightest drink, lemonade or juice a sweeter one, and ginger ale or tonic something in between. For a classic, try soda or tonic with lime.
Q3How much vodka goes in a mixed drink?
A standard pour is 1½ oz (45 ml), and 2 oz (60 ml) makes a stronger drink. Top with about 4 to 6 oz of mixer so the ratio is roughly 1 part vodka to 3 parts mixer.
Q4What are some simple vodka drinks with two ingredients?
Vodka soda, vodka tonic, a screwdriver, a vodka cranberry and a Vodka Buck all have just two ingredients (plus a squeeze of lime if you like).
Easy cocktail recipes ↗Q5What vodka drink does not taste like alcohol?
Vodka and soda with lime, or vodka and tonic, are among the lightest-tasting. Citrus and fizzy mixers hide the taste of alcohol, but they are still just as strong, so pace yourself.
Vodka seltzer ↗Q6Does vodka need to be chilled for mixed drinks?
It does not have to be, but chilled vodka (kept in the freezer) keeps the drink colder for longer, so the ice melts slower and the drink stays less watery.
Vodka cocktails ↗Another round?
Pour the next one
- N° 01Vodka Seltzer6 drinks ⇄ 66 Easy Spiked Seltzer Recipes You Can Make at Home (With Zero-Proof Twins)Cocktails · Vodka · 6 drinks ⇄ 6
- N° 02Chocolate Martini Recipe5 drinks ⇄ 5Rich, Creamy and Easy (With a Zero-Proof Twin)Cocktails · Vodka · 5 drinks ⇄ 5
- N° 03Bottled Cocktails5 drinks ⇄ 5How to Make Pre-Mixed, Ready-to-Pour Cocktails at HomeParty & Batch · Batch & Pitcher · 5 drinks ⇄ 5
