How to Elevate Your Vodka Cocktails in 3 Easy Steps

It’s hard to go wrong with a cocktail in hand. Still, if you’re looking to elevate your mixed drink game from beginner to bartender, there’s always room for improvement—even to something as delectable as a classic vodka cocktail.

If you don’t usually venture beyond the realm of vodka and cranberry juice or vodka and club soda featuring a lime wedge, there’s a whole wide world of cocktails out there to explore. Our range of hard ice vodka freeze pops can be a great way to dip your toes into something new while still staying relatively within your comfort zone. We’ll go over some of the best vodka cocktails and then give you three easy ways to elevate your own concoctions at home.

Grab your cocktail glass, then let the vodka pour and the good times roll.

#1 Bloody Mary

With such a unique flavor profile and ingredient list, the Bloody Mary cocktail is certainly full of zest. This brunch staple, typically served in a highball glass, is made with vodka, tomato juice, and a long list of explosive spices. With a variety of garnishes, you’re in for a boozy and savory start to your day if you’re sipping on this infamous vodka drink. 

#2 Blackberry Vodka Mojito

For those interested in experimenting with some of the best vodka cocktails to make at home, consider this fruity twist on a crowd favorite, the mojito. Not only does this cocktail recipe replace the standard rum with vodka, but it also offers a blast of flavor by gently muddling blackberries and fresh basil leaves. Once you have crafted your cocktail, fetch a Collins glass, fill it with fresh ice cubes, and start pouring!

As if that’s not enough, take your tantalizing treat to the next level by rimming the glass with sugar or garnishing with a wedge of lemon, more berries, or even a cut of crystallized ginger.

#3 Espresso Martini

A good drink transitions effortlessly from daytime to nighttime. What better way to do that than by combining a shot of caffeine with a splash of top-shelf vodka served in a martini glass for a touch of class?

Rich, creamy, and packed with just the right amount of alcohol, this vodka martini will keep the good times going, whether the party is just getting started or is entering its grand finale. 

#4 Classic Vodka Martini

But wait, don’t put away the cocktail shaker or martini glass quite yet. There’s nothing more classy than a classic vodka martini. It’s a fantastic foundational drink for anyone who wants a crisp, dry martini without the herbal aroma of gin—and the perfect signature drink to master as a budding mixologist.

But just because it’s a classic vodka cocktail doesn’t mean it has to be basic. 

Adding a twist of lemon or olives for garnish isn’t the only way to infuse some newness into your standard drink. 

Refresh Your Drink: Put A Signature Twist On A Classic Cocktail Recipe

Whether you crave unique vodka cocktails or prefer the classics, what you really want is a delicious drink that tastes as good as it looks. The best vodka cocktail recipes offer an experience you just can’t get with your average mixed drink.

To elevate your evening and your drinks in one fell swoop, it’s time to try something new. Who knows? You might just create the best vodka cocktail recipes around.

#1 Start by Rinsing Your Cocktail Glass with a Liqueur Beforehand

Before you dive all the way in, dip your toes into the world of cocktail creations by upgrading your vodka soda in a simple and subtle way. Before concocting this classic vodka cocktail, rinse your glass with a tiny amount of absinthe, Campari, or a floral or fruity liqueur, then discard for subtle hints of hidden flavors.

Like a well-kept secret, the glass will retain and incorporate the scent and flavors of the liqueur without overpowering your eventual vodka drink. 

#2 Garnish with Herbs or Fruit

How can you turn a simple drink into a sensational experience? With a perfectly placed garnish that adds both visual appeal and enhanced flavor. 

Garnishes are more than just decor (though they’re certainly that, too). The right garnish can stimulate your other senses, too. A simple twist of lemon, lime or orange peel offers a fresh, zesty scent, while a slice of pineapple, watermelon or skewer of berries doubles as a vodka-soaked snack. Fresh herbs can add aromatic accents to any vodka cocktail recipe, from mint leaves to rosemary sprigs. 

To go above and beyond, make your own crystallized citrus peels or candied ginger (or else stock up on sophisticated store-bought garnishes).

There’s a garnish to complement every drink—just be sure to find the one that matches yours. 

#3 Make Refreshing Frozen Vodka Cocktails

The only thing better than a cold drink crafted in a stainless steel cocktail shaker is an almost frozen one, blended to perfection with high-quality vodka and powerful fruity flavors. 

Whether you’re basking in the sun or just reminiscing on it, every celebration can benefit from a refreshing blended beverage. Here are some of our frozen favorites that can be made with already portioned frozen vodka cocktail pops:

• Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Slushies – An instant classic, this fruity frozen drink is made with lemonade vodka popsicles, strawberries, and simple syrup.
• Sex on the Beach Slushies – Despite the name, these cocktails are as tasteful as they are tasty, made with frozen cranberry and grapefruit vodka pops, orange juice, and peach schnapps. Think of a vodka cranberry with a tropical, refreshing splash thanks to the grapefruit juice, orange juice, and peach schnapps.
• Very Berry Slushie – Made with vodka blue raspberry ice pops, a fresh medley of blueberries and raspberries, and sweet and sour cocktail mix, this playful blue drink will remind you you’re never too old to have a little fun. 

Up Your Cocktail Game with SLIQ

There are so many ways to elevate any vodka cocktail recipe. But sometimes, the best way is also the easiest. Wondering how to freeze vodka cocktails from the comfort of your home? Three words: alcohol ice pops. SLIQ’s Spirited Ice hard freezer pops are made with premium liquors and elevated ingredients for guaranteed good times—and maybe a little brain freeze. We currently offer two other variants from our frozen vodka ice pops: frozen margarita ice pops and frozen rum ice pop daiquiris, each of which comes in three distinct drink flavors. Whether you turn them into delicious frozen drinks or enjoy them as is, you can have twice the fun with half the effort. 

Stock your freezer and refreshment table with SLIQ frozen vodka cocktails for every occasion.

Sources: 

Seasonal cravings. Blackberry Vodka Mojito. https://www.seasonalcravings.com/easy-blackberry-vodka-mojito/

Thrillist. 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Upgrade a Vodka Soda. https://www.thrillist.com/entertaining/how-to-make-a-vodka-soda-better