Flavoured vodka has become incredibly popular in recent years, with all kinds of unique and tasty options to choose from. When used in cocktails and mixed drinks, flavoured vodka can really make your drink pop with delicious flavours. But with so many flavours to choose from like citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, and more, it can be tricky to know what ingredients best complement different flavoured vodkas. The right supporting flavors and mixers can really enhance the flavoured vodka and create a balanced, delightful drink. In this article, we’ll break down the most popular flavoured vodka options and what tends to taste great when mixed with each one.
Fruit Flavoured Vodkas
Fruit flavours like raspberry, orange, grapefruit, peach, and more are some of the most common flavoured vodkas on the market. Their sweet, tangy notes make them versatile mixers for a variety of drinks.
Best Mixers for Fruit Flavoured Vodka
– Fruit juice – Orange, grapefruit, cranberry, pineapple, etc. complement fruit flavoured vodka nicely. The matching fruits tend to work best.
– Lemonade or limeade – The sweet and sour citrus flavors accentuate the fruit flavors in the vodka.
– Ginger beer – The spiciness pairs wonderfully with sweet fruit vodkas like raspberry or peach.
– Soda water – Keeps drinks light and refreshing when mixed with fruit vodka.
– Sweet iced tea – For a unique southern twist, fruit flavored vodka goes great mixed with sweet tea.
– Lemon-lime soda – The crisp, sweet lemon-lime flavors match well with citrusy fruit vodkas.
Fruit Flavored Vodka Cocktail Recipes
– Peach Vodka Iced Tea – Peach vodka, iced tea, lemonade, peach slice garnish
– Grapefruit Paloma – Grapefruit vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sparkling water, salt rim
– Raspberry Lemonade Fizz – Raspberry vodka, lemonade, club soda, lemon slice
– Pineapple Orange Sunset – Pineapple vodka, orange juice, grenadine, maraschino cherry
Sweet and Dessert Flavoured Vodkas
Vodkas flavored with sweeter profiles like vanilla, cinnamon, whipped cream, or cake flavors need mixer ingredients that won’t overwhelm the more delicate flavors.
Best Mixers for Sweet Vodkas
– Ginger ale – The bite of ginger complements sweeter vodkas nicely without overpowering them.
– Lemon-lime soda – Adds crisp, refreshing citrus flavors that uplift sweet vodkas.
– Orange juice – Fresh OJ helps sweeten already sweet vodkas and adds natural fruit flavors.
– Cranberry juice – Tart cranberry juices helps cut sweetness while contributing rich berry notes.
– Club soda – Allows sweet vodka flavors to really shine when mixed into simple vodka sodas.
– Coconut water – Coconut water’s natural sweetness doesn’t overwhelm flavored vodka like other juices can.
Dessert Vodka Cocktail Recipes
– Vanilla Bean Lemonade – Vanilla vodka, lemonade, lemon wedge
– Cinnamon Toast Crunch – Cinnamon vodka, ginger ale, cinnamon sugar rim
– Birthday Cake Martini – Birthday cake vodka, Frangelico, cream, rainbow sprinkles
– Whipped Cream Dream – Whipped cream vodka, orange juice, club soda, dollop of whipped cream
Savory and Herb Flavoured Vodkas
Vodkas infused with herbs, spices, or vegetables tend to have more robust, savory flavors. Matching them with the right complementary mixers is key.
Best Mixers for Savory Vodkas
– Tomato juice – The quintessential mixer for spicy vodkas like Tabasco, tomato juice also works well for basil or rosemary vodkas.
– Beef broth – Makes an excellent mixer for veggie flavored vodkas like bell pepper, beet, or celery.
– Bloody Mary mix – Spicy and savory, it’s the perfect pairing for chili pepper or habanero flavored vodkas.
– Olive brine – For olive flavored vodka, add a splash of the brine for added olive notes.
– Clamato juice – This savory tomato-clam juice combines nicely with herb flavors like rosemary or oregano.
– Vegetable juice – For veggie-based vodkas, match the flavors with juices like V8 or fresh beet or celery juice.
Savory Vodka Cocktail Recipes
– Bloody Maria – Jalapeño vodka, bloody Mary mix, lime juice, Tajín rim
– Dirt and Worms – Beet vodka, carrot juice, orange slice garnish
– Rockin’ Rosé Spritz – Rose vodka, dry rosé wine, club soda, lemon twist
– Peppered Ranch Water – Jalapeño vodka, lime juice, club soda, black pepper rim
Combining Flavored Vodkas
You can also mix different flavored vodkas together in cocktails to create unique flavor combinations and balance out sweetness.
Flavored Vodka Blends
– Raspberry vodka + Vanilla vodka = Sweet tart flavor
– Grapefruit vodka + Cucumber vodka = Cool, refreshing citrus
– Whipped cream vodka + Coffee vodka = Sweet pick-me-up
– Peach vodka + Ginger vodka = Sweet heat
– Pineapple vodka + Coconut vodka = Tropical
Flavored Vodka Cocktail Recipes
– Maui Wowie – Coconut vodka, pineapple vodka, orange juice, pineapple wedge
– Sweet Heat Martini – Peach vodka, ginger vodka, lemon juice, cayenne sugar rim
– Espresso Cream Freeze – Coffee vodka, whipped cream vodka, cold brew coffee
– Sour Patch Kid – Raspberry vodka, vanilla vodka, lemonade, sour candy garnish
Making Your Own Flavored Vodkas
You can also easily infuse basic vodka at home with your own fresh fruit, herbs, veggies, and spices to create your own custom flavored vodkas. Then you can control the flavors and mix up perfect combinations.
Fruits
Cut up fruits like berries, citrus slices, mango, pineapple, etc. and add to a Mason jar of vodka. Let infuse 1-3 days. Works best with softer fruits.
Herbs and Spices
Add bruised herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme or spices like cracked pepper, chili flakes, cinnamon sticks to vodka. Let infuse 1-3 days.
Vegetables
Chop harder veggies like peppers, celery, carrots. Puree softer veggies like beet or tomato. Add to vodka. Infuse 3-5 days and strain solids.
Other Flavorings
Add a few drops of extracts like vanilla, almond, coffee, or orange. Or ingredients like espresso beans, cacao nibs, honey, etc. Taste and adjust until desired flavor is reached.
Choosing the Right Glassware
Serving flavored vodkas in appropriate glassware can enhance the experience and accentuate the flavors:
| Flavored Vodka | Best Glassware |
|---|---|
| Fruit flavored | Highball, collins, or hurricane glass |
| Sweet and creamy | Coupe or martini glass |
| Savory and spicy | Rocks or old fashioned glass |
| Herbal | Snifter or tulip glass |
Conclusion
The possibilities are endless when mixing up drinks with flavored vodka. Pay attention to the specific flavor profiles of the vodka and balance it out with mixers and garnishes that complement or contrast the flavors. Getting creative and trying unique flavor combinations can lead to signature cocktail recipes that everyone will enjoy. With this guide on the best mixers and pairing options for popular flavored vodka types, you’ll be ready to shake up your own perfect flavored vodka cocktails.