50 Vodka Cocktails That Prove “Neutral” Doesn’t Mean Boring
August 3, 2025
Vodka’s got range—and we’ve got the receipts.
From the iconic Martini and Cosmo to ultra-simple 3-ingredient stunners and 24 brand-new, flavor-packed originals straight from the Flavor Camp Community, this list of 50 vodka cocktails is your ultimate mixable cheat sheet. Whether you’re a bartender looking for fresh builds or just trying to level up from vodka-soda mode, consider this your go-to guide to what vodka actually tastes like when it’s put to good use.
Flavor Camp Community Created Cocktails
1. A Toast to Lincoln*
Recipe By: Ellen Prime (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Toasted Coconut-infused Vodka
0.5 oz Disaronno (Amaretto)
0.5 oz Tia Maria (Coffee Liqueur)
0.5 oz Amaro Averna
Garnish: Lime Leaf
Method:
Stir in a mixing glass with ice until chilled and diluted. Strain over fresh ice & garnish.
Prep:
Combine 150 grams of toasted unsweetened shredded coconut with 15 ounces of Dillon’s vodka and let infuse for 1-2 hours before straining out coconut.
Notes:
*This was the winning cocktail for our Vodka Cocktail Challenge in partnership with Dillon’s Distillery in July 2025.
Learn more about the cocktail and inspiration here.
2. Hound & Herb*
Recipe By: Angelina Campigotto (Toronto, Ontario)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Bianco Vermouth
3 dashes Dillon’s Fennel Bitters
4 barspoons of white sugar
8 fresh seedless green grapes
8 large fresh basil leaves
Method:
Muddle grapes in glass. Tear basil leaves by hand to release their aromatics and add to the glass. Pour in remaining ingredients with ice and add to the glass. Stir well, top with additional ice if needed. Serve with a stirring spoon.
Notes:
*This was a semi-finalist cocktail for our Vodka Cocktail Challenge in partnership with Dillon’s Distillery in July 2025.
Learn more about the cocktail and inspiration here.
3. Lemon Cake*
Recipe By: Laureen Braley (Calgary, Alberta)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Limoncello
0.5 oz Olive Oil (extra virgin)
0.25 oz Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Egg White
0.25 oz Simple Syrup (1:1) (optional to taste)
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
In a cocktail shaker, dry shake ingredients. Add ice and shake again. Fine strain and garnish with a lemon twist.
Notes:
*This was a semi-finalist cocktail for our Vodka Cocktail Challenge in partnership with Dillon’s Distillery in July 2025.
Learn more about the cocktail and inspiration here.
4. So Fresh So Clean*
Recipe By: Laureen Braley (Calgary, Alberta)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Salted Lemon Cordial
2 dash Dillon’s Fennel Bitters
2 Cherry Tomatoes
2-3 oz Soda Water
Garnish: Cherry Tomato
Method:
Muddle 2 cherry tomato’s in a high ball glass, add 1 oz salted lemon cordial, 2 oz Dillon’s vodka, 2 dash Dillon’s fennel bitters into highball glass. Fill glass with ice, and top with soda water. Use bar spoon to gently stir to combine ingredients. Serve with a straw. Garnish with cherry tomato.
Prep:
Add 150 ml lemon juice, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon maldon salt in non reactive container, add 250ml hot water and stir to dissolve. Add 3 big chunks of lemon zest and 1 bay leaf into the syrup as it cools. Remove once ready to use.
Notes:
*This was a semi-finalist cocktail for our Vodka Cocktail Challenge in partnership with Dillon’s Distillery in July 2025.
Learn more about the cocktail and inspiration here.
5. Devil May Cry
Recipe By: Raphaelle Jourdren (Vancouver, BC)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
3 Fresh Black Cherries
0.75 oz Tarragon Syrup
2 dashes of plum bitter
Garnish: Black Cherry
Method:
In a shaker, muddle the black cherries with the vodka, the tarragon syrup and the plum bitter. Add some ice and shake. Strain in a chilled martini glass and add the black cherry on a metal cocktail pick.
Prep:
Put 400mL of water and 400g of granulated sugar in a pot and bring to a boil while stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for an extra minute. Remove from heat, add 25g of washed and chopped fresh tarragon leaves, let them steep for 20 minutes. Fine-strain in an airtight container. Let it cool down before using and keep it refrigerated.
6. Fleur de ABV
Recipe By: Nick Park (Vancouver, BC)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz St Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
0.75 oz Strega
1.0 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice, shake, strain into glass.
7. Fleur de ABV
Recipe By: Ben Townsend (Toronto, Ontario)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Cucumber Juice
0.5 oz Mint Syrup
0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.25 oz Elderflower Liqueur
1 bar spoon Absinthe
Garnish: Cucumber Ribbon
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon, and an optional spritz of absinthe.
8. Harvest Moon
Recipe By: William Doney (Edmonton, Alberta)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Amaro Nonino
4 chunks of of Bartlett Pear
1.0 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.25 oz Cinnamon Syrup (2:1)
3 dashes Dillon’s Ginger Bitters
Garnish: Torched Rosemary
Method:
Add the diced pear chunks to the tin with the vodka and muddle, add all other ingredients and shake well for 8-10 seconds, double strain into the Nick and Nora, garnish with flamed rosemary.
9. Hello Rosie
Recipe By: Jeffrey Wong (Calgary, Alberta)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Lemon
0.75 oz Strawberry Rhubarb Cordial
3.0 oz Fiol Sparkling Rose
Garnish: Sliced Strawberries & Lemon Wheel
Method:
In a shaker tin, add in the Dillon’s Vodka, Lemon Juice & Strawberry Rhubarb Cordial. Fill with Ice and give it a quick shake. Strain into a wine glass with ice. Add in 3oz of Fiol Sparkling Rose into the wine glass. Stir 3 times to incorporate the ingredients together. Garnish with 2 strawberry slice & lemon wheel.
Prep:
In a medium saucepan add 100g sliced strawberries, 100g chopped rhubarb, 300g water, and 100g sugar over medium heat. Stir until sugar is fully dissolved, lower heat to low and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Stain and allow for the cordial to cool.
10. How to Grain Your Dragon
Recipe By: Matt Dash (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Pear Eau-De-Vie
2.0 oz Dragonfruit Purée
0.75 oz Floral Honey Syrup (1:1)
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
2.0 oz Grapefruit Soda
Garnish: Dragonfruit
Method:
Pour all ingredients except Grapefruit Soda to cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Dump contents into wineglass, add more ice if needed. Top with grapefruit soda, garnish with dragonfruit and a bio degradable straw.
11. Peach Protocol
Recipe By: Kalisha Glover (Vancouver, BC)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Basil-infused Lillet Blanc
0.25 oz Orange Liqueur
2 dashes of Peychaud’s
4 dashes of Peach Bitters
Garnish: Peach Slice
Method:
Stir all ingredients on ice. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora & Garnish.
12. Pink Pony Club
Recipe By: Kyle Smith (Toronto, Ontario)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Pink Lemonade Cordial
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Club Soda
Garnish: Lemon Wheel
Method:
Shake Vodka, Cordial, and Bitters with ice. Dirty dump into a high ball, add ice to top, complete the wash line with soda. Stir to blend, serve.
Prep:
Combine 250g sugar, the juice of 1 medium lemon, 25g citric acid, 30ml Rose’s grenadine, 2.5g fine sea salt and 240g hot water, preferably in a blender with a heater. Blend on medium to mix sugar, but not to pulverize the lemon completely. Let steep ten minutes. Fine strain and chill.
13. Stroll Through the Garden
Recipe By: Sheldon Jackson (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.5 Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 Rosemary Syrup
2-3 leaves of Thai Basil
2-3 slices of Cucumber
0.75 oz of Dry White Wine
Garnish: Fresh Herbs
Method:
Add cucumber to shaker tin and muddle. Spank the Thai Basil and add it in. Add the rest of ingredients, add ice and shake hard. Strain with a mesh strainer into a rocks glass. Fill with fresh ice and garnish.
Prep:
Combine 500ml of water, 500ml of white sugar, and 3 rosemary sprigs into a pot. Head and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool, remove rosemary.
14. The Longest Day
Recipe By: Zoe Bates (Vancouver, BC)
Ingredients:
1.75oz Vodka
0.25oz French Wine Aperitif (Lillet)
Bar spoon of Italian Red Bitter (Campari)
0.5oz Orange Syrup
1.0 oz Lemon Juice
3 drops Orange Blossom Water
Garnish: Dehydrated Orange Wheel
Method:
Combined ingredients in a shaker tin, shake with ice for about 10 seconds. Double strain into chilled Nick & Nora glass, garnish by pinning Dehydrated orange wheel to rim.
Prep:
Combine zests and juice from 3 oranges, 1000g of sugar and 450g of water in a saucepan on medium heat, leave until sugar is fully dissolved and combined. Let steep in fridge overnight. Strain & store in fridge.
15. The Root Cellar
Recipe By: Tristin Vissers (Toronto, Ontario)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Garlic Dill Pickle Brine
2-6 dashes Dillon’s Hot Pepper Bitters
Top with Fever Tree Cucumber Tonic
Garnish: Pickled Vegetables
Method:
Pour all your ingredients into your Collins glass, place a healthy amount of ice in thereafter and stir to chill with a bar spoon or a sturdy straw, top your glass with your soda and place your garnish on the rim of the glass and enjoy.
16. The Rural Juror
Recipe By: Tyler Laitinen (Port Moody, BC)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Triple Sec
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
2.0 oz Watermelon Juice
6-8 mint leaves
Garnish: Mint Sprig
Method:
Build the cocktail in a mason jar. Lightly muddle the mint with a cocktail spoon. Add the rest of the ingredients to the glass with ice and stir to dilute and combine. Top with more ice and mint sprig.
17. Glass Skin
Recipe By: Darko Novakovic (Montenegro)
Ingredients:
1.75 oz Vodka
1/3 oz Coconut Water Reduction
(slightly sweetened + clarified)
0.5 oz Yuzu Juice*
1/3 oz Shiso Syrup
2 dashes Saline Solution (5:1)
2 drops Jasmine Tincture
Garnish: Edible Pearl Dust Spritz & Jasmine Mist
Method:
Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled glass over chilled glass. Spray lightly with jasmine mist.
*Use 10 ml lemon + 5 ml grapefruit if yuzu unavailable.
18. Grainwave
Recipe By: Fang Cheng-Che (Paris, France)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Dry Sherry
0.5 oz Coffee Liqueur
1 tsp Yellow Chartreuse
1.5 oz Coconut Water
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
All ingredients are batched and bottled, then stored in the freezer. To serve, pour directly into a well-chilled Nick & Nora glass. No further dilution or stirring is required.
19. Memory of Warmth
Recipe By: Furba Lama (Dubai, UAE)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Arabic Date Washed Coffee Liqueur
1.0 oz Cold brew Coffee
Method:
Chill the martini glass. Pour all the ingredients into shaker and shake to create a nice foam and texture.
21. Skypiea
Recipe By: Christopher Pariyar (Dubai, UAE)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Dolin Dry
0.5 oz Kumquat Cordial*
3 drops Saline Solution (5:1)
4 drops Umami Solution
0.5 oz Citric Acid Solution
Garnish: Kumquat
Method:
Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes stir well and strain into a chilled glass.
Prep:
Kumquats – 100g (washed, sliced thin, seeds removed)
Sugar – 80g (white)
Water – 50ml
Citric acid – 1g (for brightness & shelf life)
22. Shadow in the Grove
Recipe By: Gregory Canillas (Long Beach, USA)
Ingredients:
1.25 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Black Walnut Liqueur (Nocino)
0.25 oz Elderflower Liqueur
1 dash Orange Bitters
1 dash Chocolate Bitters
Method:
1. Add Ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir gently for 20–25 seconds until well chilled and properly diluted.
3. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.
4. Garnish with an expressed orange twist; rest elegantly on rim. Optional: a light grating of dark chocolate on one half of the drink for visual contrast and aroma.
23. Two Elements
Recipe By: Abdul Hanif Romadzan (Dubai, UAE)
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
1/3 oz Dry Vermouth
1 barspoon Olive Brine
0.75 oz Bloody Marry Shrub*
Garnish: Olive
Method:
Pour all ingredients into mixing glass and stir gently around 15 seconds. Pour into coupe glass with green olives pairing.
Prep:
*Bloody Marry Shrub
Tomato cherry
300 ml Water (made from blended tomato cherry and strain)
45 ml Worcestershire
15 ml Tabasco Sauce
100 grams Sugar
25 ml Apple Vinegar
Method: Sousvide all ingredients at 55 degrees for 2 Hours to get intensity of tomato.
Strain with paper filter to get clear colour.
Martinis
24. Mango Cardamom Martini (MCM)
Recipe By: Elizabeth Pearce (Bath, Somerset, UK)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Lime Juice
1/3 oz Pineapple Juice
1/4 oz Apricot Brandy
2 dashes Cardamom Bitters
Garnish: Pineapple Sugar
Method:
Chill Nick & Nora in freezer. Add all wet ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake for 15-20 seconds. Take glass out of freezer dust one side with pineapple sugar. Double strain, serve and enjoy!
25. Breakfast Martini
Recipe By: Salvatore Calabrese (London, UK)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka (traditionally made with Gin)
0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
1 barspoon Orange Marmalade
Garnish: Orange Twist
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with orange oils.
26. Perfect Martini
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Dry Vermouth
0.75 oz Rosso Vermouth
1 dash Orange Bitters
Garnish: Orange Twist
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
27. Paisley Martini
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka (originally made with Gin)
⅓ oz Dry Vermouth
1-2 barspoon(s) Scotch
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
28. Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Orange Liqueur
0.5-0.75 oz Simple Syrup
1.0 oz Cranberry Juice
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Garnish: Orange Twist
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with orange oils.
29. Gibson Martini
Ingredients:
2.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
Onion Brine (to taste)
Garnish: Pickled Onion
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
30. Lemon Drop Martini
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Orange Liqueur
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Garnish: Sugar Rim
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar.
31. Vesper Martini
Ingredients:
3.0 oz Gin
1.0 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Lillet Blanc
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
Shaken not stirred. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled martini glass & garnish.
32. Dry Martini
Ingredients:
3.0 oz Vodka
Glass Rinse of Vermouth
Garnish: Lemon Twist or Olive
Method:
In a mixing glass stir vodka with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe that’s been rinsed with vermouth. Garnish as you please and enjoy.
33. Dirty Martini
Ingredients:
2.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
0.5 – 1.0 oz Olive Brine
Garnish: Olives
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish.
34. Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Coffee Liqueur
1.0 oz Espresso
0.25 – 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Garnish: Coffee Beans
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
35. French Martini
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.50 oz Raspberry Liqueur
2.0 oz Pineapple Juice
Garnish: Pineapple Slice
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
36. 50/50 Martini
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Dry Vermouth
1 dash Orange Bitters
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
37. Noritini
Ingredients:
2.5 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Seaweed-infused Vermouth
2-3 drops Sesame Oil
Garnish: Nori
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
38. Martini Dill-emma
Ingredients:
1.0 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Aquavit
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Dill Pickle Brine
Garnish: Dill Frond
Method:
In a mixing glass stir ingredients with ice until adequately chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
39. Flirtini #2
Ingredients:
0.75 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Orange Liqueur
1.5 oz Pineapple Juice
2-3 oz Sparkling Wine
Garnish: Cherry
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
40. Summertini
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
3.0 oz Grapefruit Juice
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
Additional Vodka Cocktails
41. Kamikaze
Ingredients:
1.0 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Orange Curacao
1.0 oz Lime
Garnish: Lime Wheel
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish.
42. Vodka Gimlet
Ingredients:
2.0 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Lime Juice
0.5 – 0.75 oz Simple Syrup
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
43. Salty Dog
Ingredients:
1.0 – 2.0 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Lemon-Lime Soda
Garnish: Salt & Grapefruit
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a rocks glass rimmed with salt and fresh ice.
44. Harvey Wallbanger
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Galliano
3.0 oz Orange Juice
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and diluted. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
45. Dirty Shirley
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
3.0 oz Lemon Lime Soda
1.0 oz Grenadine
Method:
Build directly in a glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish.
46. Vodka Mule
Ingredients:
1.0 – 2.0 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3-4 oz Ginger Beer
Garnish: Lime Wedge
Method:
Build directly in a glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish.
47. Vodka Slime
Ingredients:
1.0 – 2.0 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Lemon-Lime Soda
Garnish: Lime Wedge
Method:
Build directly in a glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish.
48. Vodka Pineapple Fizz
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Vodka
1.0 oz Pineapple Juice
3 – 4 oz Club Soda
Method:
Build directly in a glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish.
49. Figgin’ Love You
Ingredients:
1.0 oz Dillon’s Vodka
0.75 oz Fig Syrup*
0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3 dashes Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: Dehydrated Fig
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice and garnish.
Prep:
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
5 fresh figs quartered
Combine ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring until sugar has dissolved and the figs begin to break down. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool. Fine strain out figs. Keep syrup refrigerated.
50. Lemony Lemonade
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Dillon’s Vodka
0.75 oz Limoncello
3.0 oz Lemonade*
4 dashes Dillon’s Lemon Bitters
Club Soda (Optional)
Garnish: Fresh Mint
Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice and garnish.
Prep:
*Lemonade
¾ cup organic cane sugar
¾ cup water
handful of fresh mint leaves
2 ½ cups fresh lemon juice
Combine the sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the head to a simmer, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat add the mint leaves. Cover and steep for approximately 15 minutes. Strain mixture into a container and refrigerate.
