Best Vodka Sour Recipe (2024)

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The classic Vodka Sour is simple to make and to drink! With a short and sweet ingredient list, this vodka co*cktail is made for easy sipping!!

Best Vodka Sour Recipe (1)

Vodka Sour Drink

Vodka is incredibly versatile. With it's clean, neutral flavor, it's pretty much a blank canvas! From thirst-quenching drinks like a Moscow Mule to a more sophisticated drink like the Cosmopolitan, vodka is one of my "go-to" liquors when making co*cktails!

So despite having over 12 vodka co*cktails in the archives... I didn't have a Vodka Sour recipe.

So it was definitely time to rectify that! And I'm hoping you'll be as happy about it as I am!

What's in a Vodka Sour?

Like all sour co*cktails, the formula is pretty simple - liquor+lemon or lime juice + a sweetener. So, for this drink, you'll need:

  • Vodka - since this co*cktail has such a short ingredient list, opt for a smooth vodka. Grey Goose, Sipsmith or Snow Leopard (my personal favorite!) are all good choices!
  • Fresh Lemon Juice - fresh lemon juice has a much brighter flavor than bottled so use fresh!
  • Simple syrup

TIP:

A homemade sour mix is a great substitute for lemon juice and simple syrup!

Best Vodka Sour Recipe (2)

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How to Make A Vodka Sour

Making a sour drink couldn't be easier!

  1. Combine the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup into a co*cktail shaker.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Place the tin on top and shake for 10-15 seconds or until the outside of the shaker tin is frosty!
  4. Strain over ice into a rocks glass OR serve straight up (no ice) in a co*cktail glass!
  5. Garnish with a lemon and Luxardo cherry if desired.

If you've never shaken a co*cktail, here's my latest video to show you how!

Cherry Vodka Sour & Other Variations

If you haven't guessed by now, this basic co*cktail recipe is tailor-made for variations! You can swap lime juice for lemon, and replace the simple syrup with a flavored syrup like maple or grenadine. Or (my personal favorite!) add a liqueur - Triple Sec or Elderflower liqueur would be delicious!

Cherry Vodka Sour Recipe

One of the most popular variations of the vodka sour is the Cherry Vodka Sour. It's really just a standard vodka sour with the addition of grenadine.

How to make a Cherry Vodka Sour

To make it:

  1. Add the vodka, lemon juice, ¾ oz. of simple syrup, ¼ oz. grenadine and 3 dashes of angostura bitters to the co*cktail shaker.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Shake the co*cktail for 10 -15 seconds and then strain into a rocks glass or a coupe.
  4. Garnish with a cherry and fresh mint if desired.
Best Vodka Sour Recipe (3)

Other Sour co*cktails you may enjoy!

  • Tamarind Margarita - possibly one of the best Margarita co*cktail recipes I've ever tried!
  • The BEST Margarita on the Rocks Recipe - truly the best, classic margarita ever!
  • Gin Gimlet - this one uses Botanist gin!!

Other Vodka co*cktails for Vodka Drink Lovers!

  • Grey Goose Martini - the classic co*cktail with a little twist!
  • Vodka and Cranberry - the classic Cape Cod gets a simple update!
  • Key Lime Martini - This one is perfectly balanced!
  • White Russian - for all you Pumpkin Spice lovers!!

📖Recipe

Best Vodka Sour Recipe (4)

Vodka Sour Recipe

Simple, sweet and sour, the classic Vodka Sour is meant for easy sipping! With infinite variations, it's definitely a vodka recipe you want in your collection.

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Course: co*cktail

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 462kcal

Author: Nancy Buchanan

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Vodka
  • 1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
  • 1 oz. simple syrup
  • 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 lemon slice optional
  • 1 co*cktail cherry optional

Cherry Vodka Sour

  • 2 oz. vodka
  • 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ oz. simple syrup
  • ¼ oz. grenadine
  • 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 co*cktail cherry optional
  • 1 sprig mint optional

Instructions

  • In a co*cktail shaker, combine the vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters.

  • Add Ice to the shaker and close.

  • Shake for 10 - 15 seconds and then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

  • Garnish with a lemon slice and a co*cktail cherry if desired.

Cherry Vodka Sour

  • In a co*cktail shaker, combine the vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, grenadine and angostura bitters.

  • Add ice to the shaker and close.

  • Shake for 10-15 seconds and then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

  • Garnish with a cherry on a pick if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 74mg | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Iron: 2mg

YOU KNOW I WANT TO SEE IT!Mention @Acommunaltable or tag #acommunaltable!

More Easy co*cktail Recipes

  • Apple Martini
  • Bourbon Smash co*cktail
  • Demerara Syrup
  • Dark Rum Mojito

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily says

    Best Vodka Sour Recipe (9)
    Love this!

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Emily,

      Thank you so much for letting me know!!!

      Reply

  2. GrannyK says

    I’ve never made a vodka sour with angostura bitters before so I gave it a try. Way too much bitters. I may try it again with one dash but most likely I’ll go back to leaving them out. I also found it it to be too sweet but maybe my lemons weren’t vey sour this time around.

    Reply

  3. garry cucci says

    Best Vodka Sour Recipe (10)
    Just a wonderful site to visit

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Vodka Sour Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for vodka sour? ›

How to make:
60 mlKetel One Vodka
30 mlLemon juice (freshly squeezed)
15 mlMonin Pure Cane sugar syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2 sugar to 1 water)
2 dashAngostura Aromatic Bitters
15 mlPasteurised egg white or Aquafaba (chickpea water) or 3 dashes Fee Brothers Fee Foam co*cktail foamer
1 more row

How do you make vodka taste good? ›

Vodka pairs well with a variety of juices, including orange juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and lemon juice. 4. Infuse your vodka with flavor. Although flavored vodka is available in stores, you can make your own infused vodka drinks by pouring vodka into a sealable glass jar along with other ingredients.

What does the addition of citric acid do to vodka? ›

Analyzing the Addition of Citric Acid: In addition to sugar, citric acid is commonly used in flavored spirits to enhance acidity, add a tartness, and create a more balanced flavor profile. Citric acid, extracted from citrus fruits, provides a sharp and refreshing taste, elevating the overall flavor experience.

What is the base ingredient of vodka? ›

Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains and potatoes since the latter was introduced in Europe in the 18th century. Some modern brands use corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap as the base.

What not to mix with vodka? ›

Wine and Vodka

It will give you the wildest hangover in your life, especially if you choose red wine. The tannins in red wine irritate your stomach and literally drain the water out of your organism. And the vodka acts pretty much the same, leaving you drunk, sick and dehydrated.

What juice makes vodka taste better? ›

Fruit juices like cranberry, pineapple, and pomegranate bring a burst of fruity sweetness to vodka co*cktails. These juices not only add a delightful flavor but also introduce vibrant colors to your drinks.

What is the most popular vodka co*cktail? ›

Top 10 Vodka co*cktails
  • Bloody Mary.
  • Cosmopolitan.
  • Martini.
  • Moscow Mule.
  • Mudslide.
  • Screwdriver.
  • Sea Breeze.
  • Vodka Cranberry (Cape Cod)

What is the number 1 vodka in the world? ›

Smirnoff Vodka | The World's No. 1 Vodka.

What is the king of all co*cktails? ›

Martini. The gin martini is the king of co*cktails. A clear, classic, very strong co*cktail. For such a simple co*cktail (gin, vermouth), the martini isn't afraid to court a little controversy.

What is the #1 vodka selling vodka? ›

Leading vodka brands in the U.S. based on volume sales 2022

In 2022, Tito's Handmade Vodka was the leading vodka brand in the United States with more than 11.6 million 9 liter cases sold. Other major vodka brands that year included Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, and Svedka.

What brand of vodka is the smoothest? ›

The Best Top-Shelf Vodka: Harridan

It has a higher alcohol content than most other vodka varieties, clocking in at 88 proof, and Wilson notes that it's “super smooth” if you decide to drink this neat or on the rocks. Its corn factor adds some sweetness to it, plus a fuller, creamier mouthfeel than lower-proof vodkas.

What soda goes best with vodka? ›

Root beer is good. Cola is good. For sweeter tastes, any fruit-flavored soda works (orange, grape, cherry, etc), or cream soda. For lighter flavors, carbonated water (flavored or unflavored, sweetened or unsweetened) work great.

What makes vodka sweeter? ›

“A lot of that has to do with the chemical glycerol, which is produced during fermentation.” Glycerol is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste. It's present in fermented grains and potatoes as well, but the amount of glycerol depends on the amount of sugar in the initial product.

How to make vodka Sour Patch Kids? ›

Directions. In clean, airtight glass jars (we used mason jars), fill each halfway with Sour Patch Kids. Top with vodka, then seal. Allow to infuse over a week, shaking the jars periodically.

What makes a sour co*cktail a sour? ›

See the article for specifics. Sours are mixed drinks containing a base liquor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener (simple syrup or orgeat syrup). Egg whites are also included in some sours.

Can you order a vodka sour? ›

Sour – the term 'sour' refers to the sourness of sour bar mix, bar lime mix, lime bar mix or margarita mix. If someone orders a Vodka Sour, they want vodka and bar lime mix. Shake and Strain – Place ice and ingredients into a shaker tin, shake and strain into a glass.

What is the sour vodka with balls in it? ›

Xotic Comets are transparent Vodka-Based Premium Sour. Each bottle has luminous, edible jelly-like comet balls, fun and glow under UV light. Comets are made from an organic extract.

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