SKYY Vodka Cocktails for Summer
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The sunny season is in full swing, and what better way to beat the heat than with an inspired lineup of SKYY summer vodka cocktails? Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hosting a backyard barbecue, or simply seeking a tasty sipper, The Mixer’s got you covered. Embark on a flavor-filled journey with us as we unveil our sensational SKYY Vodka cocktails that are tailor-made for summer. From zesty fruit infusions to tropical libations to transport you to paradise, these drinks are the perfect companions for those long and lazy days with friends.
1. Vodka Soda
If you love to keep it light, one of the best summer cocktails with vodka is the low-calorie Vodka Soda. With no added sugar, the spirit is given a chance to shine, so choosing good quality vodka is important. If you want to add a little sweetness, a touch of simple syrup turns this drink into a delightful Tom Collins.
Learn more: Easy Syrup Variations for Cocktail Making
2. Vodka Martini
Learning how to make a proper Vodka Martini is a rite of passage. After all, if you’re looking at cocktails through a pop-culture lens, it’s quite literally one of the most famous drinks in movie history. While Daniel Craig’s James Bond shook things up with a Vesper Martini, it was Sir Sean Connery with that purring Scottish brogue who first brought the Martini into the limelight. His Martini, the true classic, was made with vodka—shaken, not stirred.
3. SKYY Ancho Pineapple Soda
This is a delicious summer vodka cocktail mixed together using spicy Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur (made from ancho and poblano chiles) SKYY Infusions Pineapple and club soda. It’s a real crowd-pleaser in warmer months and easy to batch for bigger parties.
More pineapple inspo: 15 Totally Tropical Pineapple Juice Cocktails
4. Vodka Cranberry
For summer cocktails made with vodka that offer a welcome bit of zing, we like to turn to the time-honored Vodka Cranberry. The taste of the cranberry juice is sweet and tart, and the lime adds a lovely zesty twist, making it very drinkable and the perfect choice for just about any summer gathering.
5. SKYY Moscow Mule
Our list of refreshing summer cocktails with vodka wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Moscow Mule. A classic cocktail with a long history, it’s surprisingly not from Russia but, instead, from the United States, originating in 1940s New York. So, what is a Moscow Mule made of? It’s a spicy combination of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer — and guaranteed to deliver a feisty kick!
More Mules! 13 Delicious Mule Cocktails to Make at Home
6. Cosmopolitan
Looking for summer vodka cocktail recipes with a classy vibe? You’re wanting a Cosmopolitan, darling. Bringing together citrus-infused SKYY Vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and cranberry juice, with lime peel garnish for extra zest, the Cosmo is an iconic drink that beautifully balances citrusy sweetness with the invigorating sharpness of lime.
Advice from our expert
We sat down with Tristram Fini from Campari Academy in the UK, and chatted to him about all things SKYY Vodka. Here are some of his top tips to keep in mind when mixing vodka drinks.
- Pairing SKYY Vodka with citrus works really well. In a vodka soda, a grapefruit twist adds a touch of bitterness that balances perfectly with the vodka’s saltiness, creating a well-rounded and balanced flavor profile.
- Oysters and raw seafood make an excellent match for a Vodka Martini, due to the briny and mineral characteristics of SKYY Vodka.
- Avoid overpowering the delicate flavors of vodka with excessive sweetness or too many additional flavors. Use simple, complementary ingredients to let vodka shine in your cocktails.
- For a modern cocktail like a Cosmopolitan, balance is crucial. The sweet and tart notes of a well-made Cosmopolitan complement slightly spicy dishes. Tacos al pastor, with their pineapple and chili flavors, make an excellent pairing choice.
More summer vodka cocktails to explore
Sea Breeze Cocktail
An easy blend of vodka, cranberry, and grapefruit juice, the bright and breezy Sea Breeze is a cocktail for just about everyone. Its bright, refreshing, and bold cranberry color sets it apart and makes it a stand-out vodka-based summer cocktail for get-togethers like color cocktail parties.
Key Lime Martini
To make the best Key Lime Martini, you will need vanilla vodka, key lime juice, fresh pineapple juice, heavy cream, and cream of coconut. We love serving it with a Graham cracker rim to lean into all the flavors and textures of the iconic pie that inspired it.
Love limes? 15 Sublime Lime Cocktails You Gotta Try
Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea is a great choice if you’re looking for easy summer vodka cocktail recipes to make for larger groups ahead of time. These multi-spirit drinks can be quite potent, so stick to the measurements and enjoy them slowly. For a lighter version, take the amount of liquor down a notch and add more cola.
Watermelon Martini
The best vodka summer cocktails for those really hot days should ideally offer some welcome hydration (and a bit of a kick). This is when we turn to watermelon drinks. Full of fruity flavor and deliciously refreshing, the Watermelon Martini is the perfect thirst quencher to savor by the pool while sunbathing or to serve pitcher-style at a garden party.
Read next: 11 Watermelon Cocktail Recipes to Impress a Crowd
Lemon Drop Martini
Arguably the best fruity Martini recipe for cocktail newbies who love a lemony zing, the Lemon Drop Martini is a fresh breeze of a drink. Arriving at the party with a perky attitude and a sugary rim, this perfectly easy summer cocktail with vodka hails from the heydays of the 1970s and was named after a zesty candy that was equally popular at the time.
Vodka Iced Tea
Simple, delicious, budget-friendly, and very satisfying, our Vodka Iced Tea recipe features unsweetened black iced tea, but feel free to play around with different flavors and garnishes to make this summer vodka-based cocktail your own.
It’s teatime! Easy Tea Cocktails for Chilled Celebrations
Vodka Sidecar
Sometimes you just have to lean into a complete classic. This is when we like to pour a Vodka Sidecar. A great cocktail for sweet and sour fans, this zesty spin on the traditional version of the drink layers Grand Marnier orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice over vodka. Add a sugared rim and you’ve got all the makings of a gorgeous drink.
Learn more: Grand Marnier vs Cointreau: Everything You Need to Know
Blue Hawaiian Long Island Iced Tea
If you are keen on a fun, refreshing drink with an island-style vibe, you’ve got to try our Blue Hawaiian Long Island Iced Tea recipe. Featuring a bright cerulean color thanks to the inclusion of blue curaçao, it looks as lively and boisterous as it tastes. Even though it features a longish list of ingredients, it also comes together very easily, which makes it perfect for beginners.
Screwdriver Cocktail
Vodka and orange juice served over ice is also known as a classic Screwdriver cocktail. This is a very popular drink, and it makes sense – fruity juices are known to be a good pairing for vodka. Serve these refreshing orange cocktails as a cheeky start to brunch, or poolside with friends on a hot day.
You might also like: 11 Zesty Orange Juice Cocktails for Every Occasion and Season
Strawberry Shrub Cocktail
A shrub drink calls for a non-alcoholic syrup made with concentrated fruit, sugar, and vinegar. The syrup can be used in mocktails or in cocktails that call for an acidic fruity twist. The Strawberry Shrub cocktail adds vodka to the mix for a berry-forward drink filled with fantastic fruity flavors.
Blue Martini
Slightly sour with strong tropical notes, the Blue Martini is an easy party drink that your friends will love. To make one, you’ll need a good quality vodka, blue curaçao, sour mix, and fresh pineapple juice. Use an orange peel, fresh pineapple wedge, or maraschino cherry to garnish.
How SKYY vodka is made
SKYY Vodka was born from a deep appreciation for the San Francisco Bay. Inspired by the coastal waters that surround the city, the brand embarked on a quest to capture the essence of this unique environment in a bottle. Through meticulous exploration, SKYY’s master distillers discovered a treasure trove of minerals hidden within these waters. These minerals possessed a distinct character – a subtle salinity and minerality that promised to elevate the spirit within.
Intrigued by this discovery, SKYY infused its vodka with these coastal elements, yielding a liquor that was not only smooth but also a true reflection of its birthplace. However, the journey to perfection didn’t stop there. SKYY remained a pioneer in their field, developing a groundbreaking quadruple-distillation, triple-filtration process. This relentless pursuit of quality resulted in a vodka that is both fresh and exceptionally smooth.
