Short answer: The best things to mix with vodka are soda water and lime, tonic, cranberry juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade, ginger beer, and sweet tea. Vodka is nearly flavorless, so it plays nice with almost anything. Stick to about 1.5 ounces of vodka per drink, then add 4 to 5 ounces of your mixer over ice. That is all it takes.
What to Mix With Vodka at a Glance
- Light and crisp: Soda water with lime, or tonic.
- Fruity: Cranberry, orange, grapefruit, or pineapple juice.
- Sweet and easy: Lemonade, sweet tea, or lemon-lime soda.
- A little spicy: Ginger beer with lime for a mule.
- The pour: About 1.5 ounces of vodka per drink.
What Should You Mix With Vodka?
You can mix vodka with almost anything, and that is the whole point. A good vodka is clean and nearly flavorless, so it takes on whatever you pour with it. That makes it the easiest spirit to mix at home, even if you have never made a drink in your life.
Here is the simple rule. Use about 1.5 ounces of vodka per drink, which the NIAAA and the CDC both count as one standard drink of 80 proof spirits. Then add 4 to 5 ounces of your mixer over ice. Adjust to taste from there.
The Best Vodka Mixers (With Easy Ratios)
These are the nice vodka mixers that work every time. The ratios below are a starting point, so pour to your own taste. All of them use about 1.5 ounces of vodka.
| Mixer | Drink it makes | Easy ratio (vodka : mixer) |
|---|---|---|
| Soda water + lime | Vodka soda | 1.5 oz : 4 to 5 oz |
| Tonic water + lime | Vodka tonic | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Cranberry juice | Cape Cod | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Orange juice | Screwdriver | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Grapefruit juice | Greyhound | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Lemonade | Vodka lemonade | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Ginger beer + lime | Moscow Mule | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Sweet tea | Vodka sweet tea | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Pineapple juice | Vodka pineapple | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
| Lemon-lime soda | Vodka and Sprite | 1.5 oz : 4 oz |
Easy Vodka Drinks You Can Make in Two Minutes
These are easy vodka drinks built for warm days on the water. No shaker, no fancy steps. Just pour, stir, and go.
Lake Day Vodka Soda
The cleanest drink on this list. Great when you want something light that will not slow you down on the dock.
- 1.5 oz Ancient Sun Vodka
- 4 to 5 oz soda water
- A good squeeze of fresh lime
- Ice
Fill a glass with ice, pour the vodka, top with soda water, squeeze the lime, and give it one stir.
Vodka Sweet Tea
A front porch classic that fits any summer afternoon down here.
- 1.5 oz Ancient Sun Vodka
- 4 oz sweet tea
- Lemon wheel
- Ice
Pour over ice, stir, and drop in a lemon.
Easy Moscow Mule
A little spice and a lot of fizz. You do not need a copper mug, but it does keep it cold.
- 1.5 oz Ancient Sun Vodka
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Ice
Build over ice, stir gently, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Why a Clean Vodka Makes Better Mixed Drinks
Here is the thing about mixing vodka: the cleaner the vodka, the better the drink. A rough vodka fights your mixer and leaves a harsh bite. A smooth one blends right in and lets the lime, the tea, or the ginger beer shine.
That is what we built Ancient Sun Vodka to do. It is multi-distilled and run through our oxidative filtration process, then made with limestone-filtered water. The result is an 80 proof vodka that, as we like to say, disappears when blended. It is also naturally non-GMO, gluten free, and made with no additives, and every batch gets taste tested before it ships.
We make it between Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow Lake, so it was built for sun, water, and easy drinks. If you want the backstory on why American craft vodka has gotten so good, read our take in the American vodka post and the vodka renaissance post.
What to Mix With Vodka for Fewer Calories
If you are watching calories, the best vodka mixers are soda water, plain seltzer, or a splash of fresh citrus. They add fizz and flavor with almost no sugar. Skip the heavy juices and sodas when you can, and let a clean vodka carry the drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thing to mix with vodka?
The best thing to mix with vodka is soda water with a squeeze of lime. It is light, low in sugar, and lets the vodka stay smooth and clean. Cranberry juice, orange juice, lemonade, and ginger beer are also easy crowd-pleasers.
What are some easy vodka drinks?
Easy vodka drinks include a vodka soda, a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice), a Cape Cod (vodka and cranberry), vodka lemonade, and a Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer, and lime). Each one uses about 1.5 ounces of vodka and 4 ounces of mixer.
What mixers go well with vodka for a party?
For a party, set out cranberry juice, orange juice, lemonade, ginger beer, soda water, and plenty of lime. Those mixers cover most tastes and let guests build their own drinks. A clean, smooth vodka works best since it blends with all of them.
How much vodka should I use in a mixed drink?
Use about 1.5 ounces of vodka per drink. That is one standard drink for 80 proof spirits, according to the NIAAA and CDC. Add 4 to 5 ounces of mixer over ice, then adjust to taste.
Shop Ancient Sun Vodka
Ready to mix? Grab a bottle of Ancient Sun Vodka from the shop, and we will ship it to you. It is clean, smooth, and built for lake days. Shop Ancient Sun Vodka now.
Please drink responsibly.