Best Vodka Sour Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

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)

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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.

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

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 a vodka sour made of? ›

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

What is the formula for the sour co*cktail? ›

The golden formula for an easy sour co*cktail breaks down like this: 2 ounces spirit. 1 ounce sweet. 1 ounce sour.

What juices go well with vodka? ›

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 difference between vodka sour and vodka Collins? ›

A basic sour is made up of a base spirit plus a sour ingredient, either simple syrup with lemon or a pre-mixed sour. If those components are served in a tall glass with ice and topped with soda, then they create a collins.

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 bartender sour mix? ›

Sour mix is a combination of sugar, water, lemons, and limes. One homemade batch can give you a whole party's worth of margaritas, whiskey sours, or daiquiris without much effort. A bottle of sour mix may call you from the store shelf with a siren song of good times and an easy-pour spout.

What are the components of a sour co*cktail? ›

Sour co*cktails typically consist of three primary elements: liquor; an acidic component like lemon juice, lime juice, or other fresh citrus juice; and a sweetening agent like a simple syrup or honey syrup.

Why do sours have egg white? ›

But if you want to take your Whiskey Sour to the next level, add an egg white. This will not, in fact, make your co*cktail taste like egg. Instead, the egg white will add texture, richness, and a particular creaminess that will make it seem almost like a whiskey milkshake.

What not to mix with vodka? ›

  • Energy Drinks. Mixing caffeine with liquor may give you a lot of energy and lessen the effects of alcohol, but this will only make you continually drink more alcohol. ...
  • Marijuana. ...
  • Pain Relief Medication. ...
  • Painkillers. ...
  • Sleeping Pills. ...
  • Cocaine. ...
  • Hallucinogens. ...
  • Antidepressants.

What makes vodka taste better? ›

Quality of Ingredients: The type and quality of the base ingredients play a crucial role in the final taste and purity of the vodka. Water Quality: The water used in the vodka production significantly impacts its overall quality.

What is it called when you mix vodka and juice? ›

This screwdriver is an easy but refreshing co*cktail recipe made by combining orange juice and vodka over ice.

Is pineapple juice good with vodka? ›

Cake-flavored vodka may be the best thing in a bottle; it tastes great mixed with just about anything. This yummy co*cktail combines flavored vodka with pineapple juice for a sweet treat. Fresh pineapple also makes a great garnish.

What does vodka taste good mixed with? ›

Grapefruit Juice and a Splash of Soda

Pour a few ounces of good-quality grapefruit juice over a shot of vodka on ice, give it a stir, and top with soda water and a lime wedge. It's a light, bright, slightly effervescent version of a Greyhound co*cktail.

What is the alcohol in a sour? ›

A sour has just three base ingredients: liquor, citrus (the "sour" part), and sweetener. The combinations of these ingredients are endless: a sour can be made with any spirit, but most commonly with whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, or vodka.

Is vodka sour a normal drink? ›

The Vodka Sour is a classic co*cktail that has been enjoyed for decades. It is a simple yet versatile drink that has a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. ... more. It is a simple yet versatile drink that has a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors.

What is vodka made out of besides potatoes? ›

Today, most vodka is made from fermented grains such as sorghum, corn, rice, rye or wheat, though you can also use potatoes, fruits or even just sugar. The fermentation step creates a product with only about 16 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) — too low for spirits.

Is vodka fermented potatoes? ›

Vodka can be distilled from pretty much anything that can be fermented to make alcohol, but its mostly produced from potatoes, sugar beet molasses and cereal grains. Obviously, what ingredients are used to make a vodka will substantially influence its flavour.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5823

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.