On the surface, it’s easy to confuse ginger ale with ginger beer – the kick in the classic Moscow mule cocktail. However, whereas ginger beer is brewed and fermented, ginger ale is a more subtle, lightly carbonated soft drink. Ginger ale is the less spicy, less gassy, but slightly healthier alternative.
Some may argue that a vodka and ginger ale isn’t a Moscow mule at all, but you do you. It’s delicious nonetheless.
Fruit juice
Different fruit juices complete some of the most popular mixed drinks with vodka. The spirit’s relatively unobtrusive flavour means you’ll struggle to find a juice it won’t improve.
Vodka and cranberry juice – a.k.a. the Cape Codder – is a calorie-counting classic, although you may prefer a juice that isn’t sweetened as standard. So mix vodka and orange juice in a highball glass and – voila – you have a Screwdriver. Or you can even use orange and cranberry juices to make yourself a Madras.
Another popular fruit mixer for vodka is grapefruit juice, which offers a refreshing take on the Greyhound cocktail (originally with gin). It goes especially well with infused vodka, such as with ginger or coconut.
The Best Vodka Mixed drinks
The ultimate hot weather refresher involves preparing your own icy mixer to top off your choice of vodka – ideal for when guests are all bringing their own favourite brand. What’s more, you probably already have the ingredients to hand. At least if, like all good vodka aficionados, you’re constantly stocked up on limes.
To make a lime and vodka granita, simply:
- Start by stirring 75g of icing sugar with the juice of 3 limes.
- Beat an egg white until firm and then mix it into your sweetened juice.
- Transfer the mixture into a metal dish and freeze it for 3–4 hours, returning at least every hour to give it a stir.
To serve, pour a little vodka into 4 lowball glasses, drop a wedge of lime into each, and top with the granita. For an extra bit of flair, start by zesting your limes before you juice them and set the curls aside in an airtight container until it’s time to garnish.
This fruity summer cocktail comes courtesy of the Maybe Sammy bar in Sydney, Australia. You’ll need a relatively well-stocked bar to throw this together at the drop of a hat – including mango vodka – but it’s worth the extra prep to get your next barbecue off to a flyer.
Besides, if you can’t get mango vodka, it’s easy (if not preferable) to prepare yourself. Just put some dried mango in a bottle of your favourite vodka and leave the flavour to infuse overnight. Roughly 100g of mango to every litre of vodka should do the trick.
For each serving of Lady Luck, you should:
- Shake together 30ml of the mango vodka with 10ml of Maraschino liqueur, 20ml of Cointreau, 20ml of Pink Lady apple juice, 20ml of freshly squeezed lemon, and a dash of egg whites.
- Then simply strain into a highball glass
- Top with soda water – or a natural sparkling water like S.Pellegrino if you prefer.
Bloody Mary