Vodka is, truly, a drink for the people. Unlike many other liquors, the price on the bottle is sometimes a far throw from the quality of the vodka, with some surprises for better and worse! There are several low-priced bottles that hold their own against (and even beat) many big-name, big-price competitors. There are also some highly-priced bottles that work more for flexing your wallet than your palate. At Zipps, we carry both types to suit every taste! Take a look at the brands of Vodka we carry here.
The ample spread of price and quality comes partly from the taste of traditional vodka: this liquor has minimal to no flavor, minimal to no smell, and is smooth going down. For the same reasons, vodka is normally sipped, chilled and neat.
That said, sometimes you don’t feel like sipping vodka neat, and you also don’t feel like getting out the shaker. In these cases, there are still some great, refreshing, low-maintenance ways to enjoy your favorite spirit—it all comes down to choosing the right mixer. Here’s our list of our top 5 best Vodka mixers:
Tonic Water
This vodka mixer is more than well-known, and for good reason! The classic vodka tonic is made with vodka and a splash of lime juice, filling the rest of the cup with ice cubes and tonic water. It’s cold, citrusy, and refreshing every sip of the way. Pouring in your vodka and lime juice first and the tonic water second will also help mix together the fluids, no fancy equipment is needed. Stir with a spoon or a straw if you’d like.
Tonic water is one of the best vodka mixers because it is versatile and used in a variety of drinks. To mix up your vodka tonic, you can also crush some berries in your glass, add your vodka and some simple syrup, and again fill to the top with tonic water to get a refreshing, sweet, fruity drink that’s as easy as it is tasty.
Lemonade
Speaking of refreshing, adding some vodka to your ice cold glass of lemonade is a great way to spice up that iconic, summer afternoon drink. Again, adding vodka to your glass first and then the lemonade will mix your drink together without any fancy equipment. Add some mint to make it a little more dynamic on the palate.
If you’ve ever had a hot toddy or similar drinks, you’re probably no stranger to mixing tea with your spirits. In a similar fashion, a great way to upgrade your lemonade and vodka is to swap out the lemonade for Arnold Palmer. Adding this little bit of sweet tea can be a real game changer and take each sip to a new level of delicious.
Ginger Beer
If you recognize ginger beer as a vodka mixer, you know where we’re going with this: the Moscow Mule. This classic cocktail is made with vodka, lime juice, and (of course) ginger beer. It’s traditionally served in a copper mug, which, apart from giving off an incredibly sophisticated, does a fantastic job of keeping the drink cold given copper’s insulation.
Switching up the flavor profile on a Moscow Mule is simple, too. Adding some blood orange juice makes for an exotic look and a refreshing, citrusy punch. Muddling some cherries on the bottom of the mug will give you a wonderfully sweet and fruity drink. Adding some apple cider into the mix transforms the classic cocktail into an absolute hit for autumn.
The Right Soda
There are so, so, so many ways to craft a highball, and vodka is the usual subject poured in. That said, the right choice of soda is one of the best vodka mixers. Taking inspiration from the classic Paloma, a grapefruit flavored soda like as Squirt can make for a refreshing and easy-to-drink highball that you’ll definitely need to drink carefully. Of course, as with lots of the above suggestions, citrusy and fruity flavors will go well together if you’re looking for a vodka-and-soda combination, specifically orange. Speaking of orange…
Orange Juice
Orange juice is a common vodka mixer, and for good reason. One classic and widely-loved vodka drink with orange juice is the Screwdriver. Orange juice and vodka is all you need. This drink is incredibly easy to prepare and equally easy to drink, so much so that you’ll be tipsy before you know it. Take your time with this refreshing classic.
There are countless variations to the Screwdriver, too. For a niche, Mexican take on the drink, try adding some heat. Smirnoff makes a tamarind vodka that is more than infamous among new drinkers down south. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and it’ll get the better of you if you’re not careful. A Screwdriver made with tamarind vodka will give you an iconically Mexican flavor profile that’s more complex than the traditional recipe, and still very easy to drink. Check out the brands of Vodka we carry at Zipps Liquor to see if you have your favorite!
