Definitively deciding on what drink to indulge in during patio season is a toughie. With so many fantastic options out there landing on one drink is the kind of decision that could take a lifetime to make. Though, when you're at home and want to craft your own drinks you can turn to these summer vodka drinks to quench your thirst or show off your bartending skills to all your envious friends.
Blue Hawaii
If you're someone who enjoys the taste of pineapple with splashes of vodka and coconut syrup, a Blue Hawaii drink is the way to go this summer. With the added ice and tall hurricane glass, you'll be able to sip this beverage for a long time and enjoy the warmer weather.
What You'll Need
- 1 1/2 oz of vodka
- 1 oz of Blue Curaçao
- 2 oz of pineapple juice
- 1 oz of coconut syrup
- Crushed ice
- 1 pineapple slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
Steps
- Pour crushed ice into a hurricane glass.
- Blend the vodka, Blue Curaçao, juice, and syrup.
- Pour the mixture over the crushed ice and garnish with a pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.
- Serve immediately.
Watermelon Cooler
Just about everyone can agree that watermelon is the fruit of the summer, so why not mix summer's top fruit into a delicious drink? The Watermelon Cooler is also a terrific drink to make for crowds so everyone can gather around and indulge in this sweet cocktail.
What You'll Need
- 1 1/2 cups of watermelon chunks
- 2 oz of vodka
- 0.5 oz of triple sec
- 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of honey
- 1 lime wheel
Steps
- Puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor.
- Strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
- Add the vodka, Triple Sec, lime juice, and honey to a Collins glass. Stir and add the pureed watermelon.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Moscow Mule
This simple drink requires very few ingredients but yields a tasty drink that brings lime and ginger beer to your mug. Purchasing adorable copper mugs for your household not only adds to the novelty dinnerware you can own but also recreates patio season in your very own backyard.
What You'll Need
- 1 1/2 oz of vodka
- 4 oz of ginger beer
- 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 lime wedge
- Ice
Steps
- Squeeze lime juice into a copper mug and drop in the spent shell.
- Add ice to the mug and top with vodka and ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Cosmopolitan
The cosmopolitan has made multiple appearances in some well-known television shows and especially at our go-to hangouts after work. This fruity drink has the perfect amount of alcohol and summertime citrus so you can sit back and relax with a refreshing drink.
What You'll Need
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/4 oz of lime juice
- 3/4 oz of cranberry juice cocktail
- 1/4 oz of triple sec
- 1 orange twist for garnish
Steps
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vodka, lime juice, triple sec, and cranberry juice.
- Cover the shaker and shake for about 20 - 25 seconds until the shaker becomes cold.
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with orange twist.
Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary has been a popular choice of bargoers for years now. The versatility of this classic cocktail makes it the perfect way to kick off your summer. Plus, as far as summer vodka drinks go, this one also doubles as a breakfast beverage and who can say no to that?
What You'll Need
- 3 oz of tomato juice
- 1 1/2 oz of vodka
- 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon of hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt
- 2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 lemon wedge
- Ice
Steps
- Rub the rim of a highball glass with the lemon wedge and coat with celery salt.
- Proceed to fill the glass with ice.
- Add the vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 10-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold.
- Strain into the glass and garnish with a celery stalk.
For a Canadian twist, you can swap out the tomato juice and make your drink with clam-spiked tomato juice, also known as a Caesar!
These simple summer beverages will allow you to get the most out of the season. They don't require too many ingredients, will leave you with a tangy end product, and are easy to create, so you can return to them all throughout the summer!