Why vodka is the easiest place to start
Vodka is nearly flavorless, which is exactly what makes it so forgiving: it takes on whatever you mix it with instead of fighting it. That means most vodka cocktails are two or three ingredients, need no special technique, and are almost impossible to ruin — perfect if you are just starting to make drinks at home.
The formula for an easy vodka cocktail is simple: vodka, something to lengthen it (juice or soda), and optionally something sour or sweet to balance. Get that ratio roughly right and you have a good drink. From there, small swaps — cranberry instead of orange, soda instead of tonic — give you a dozen different cocktails from the same bottle.
Easy vodka cocktails by mixer
- Orange juice: a Screwdriver — the simplest vodka cocktail there is
- Cranberry + lime: a Cape Codder, or add triple sec and lime for a Cosmopolitan
- Soda + lime: a Vodka Soda, the lightest and lowest-effort option
- Ginger beer + lime: a Moscow Mule, ideally in a copper mug
- Tomato juice: a Bloody Mary for brunch, as spicy as you like
Keep these on hand
- A citrus: fresh lime or lemon brightens almost every vodka drink
- A juice: orange, cranberry, or grapefruit each unlock a different classic
- Something fizzy: soda water, tonic, or ginger beer to lengthen and lighten
- Triple sec (optional): one orange liqueur turns a simple sour into a Cosmopolitan or Kamikaze