Vodka soda

Vodka Soda
A vodka soda in a highball glass with a lemon garnish. A bottle of soda water and vodka are obscured in the background.
TypeHighball
Other namesVodka and Soda
Ingredients
Base spiritVodka
Standard drinkware
Highball glass
Standard garnish
A slice of lemon or lime
ServedWith cubes of ice ("on the rocks")
PreparationAdd vodka to the glass. Then add ice, and proceed to top the drink with soda water. Finally, garnish. A straw may be included, if desired.

A vodka soda (or vodka and soda) is a mixed drink of the highball variety which contains primarily vodka, soda, and ice. It may be garnished with lemon or lime. Splashes of various juices or other drink mixers etc. may be added as a variation to impart a subtle flavor to the drink. A general rule of thumb for the recipe is a 2:1 soda to vodka ratio. One notable quality of the libation is that it contains fewer calories than most other mainstream alcoholic beverages. It rose to particular prominence in the late-2010s along with hard seltzers as bar customers grew more health conscious. The beverage is sometimes loosely (or even lightheartedly) associated with women (especially young) attempting to watch their figure; it also has a following within the LGBTQ+ community.

See also

Notes

Ready-to-drink vodka sodas poured over ice in wine glasses.
  1. ↑ Some hard seltzers, such as High Noon and Truly, contain vodka and carbonation (i.e. soda) as well as other juices, sweeteners, flavorings, etc. They may be anecdotally referred to as vodka sodas or even marketed this way. Other hard seltzers, e.g. White Claw, may (generally) be malt beverages, which would be incorrect to refer to in this manner.

References

  1. ↑ Longley, Lisa (January 26, 2024). "Vodka Soda". Simple Joy. Raptive.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Adam (2012). Drink Different: A Refreshing Guide to Home Mixology. HarperCollins. Your concerns, dashed—I don't want to look ignorant. ISBN 9781927402177.
  3. ↑ deBary, John (2020). Drink What You Want: The Subjective Guide to Making Objectively Delicious Cocktails. Clarkson Potter. p. 131. ISBN 9780525575771.
  4. ↑ Single occurrence sources for the standard garnishment of a "Vodka soda":
    • Madix, Ariana; Sandoval, Tom (2019). Fancy AF Cocktails: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers. HarperCollins. p. 155. ISBN 9780358171713.
    • Carley, Shane (2023). The Home Bartender—The Third Edition: 200+ Cocktails Made with Four Ingredients or Less. Cider Mill Press. p. 21. ISBN 9781646434114.
  5. ↑ Frankel, Bethenny; Adamson, Eve (2010). The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life. Atria Books. pp. 168–170. ISBN 9781439101803.
  6. ↑ Bittman, Mark (October 28, 2024). "Vodka Soda". NYT Cooking. The New York Times.
  7. ↑ Jampolis, Melina (2015). The Doctor on Demand Diet. Bird Street Books. Make Mine a Vodka Soda Tall. ISBN 9781939457431.
  8. ↑ Eads, Lauren (July 24, 2026). "Hard seltzer loses its sparkle as the RTD market evolves". The Spirits Business. Union Press.
  9. ↑ Shown, Mary (March 4, 2020). "Drink Up: How the vodka soda has become the new mixed drink of choice". South Bend Tribune. Gannett.
  10. ↑ Roupenian, Kristen (2017). "Cat Person". The New Yorker. 93 (41): 67.
  11. ↑ Zane, Zachary (September 19, 2023). "The Glorious Gayness of the Vodka Soda". VinePair. Adam Teeter & Joshua Malin.