Shake up one of these summer vodka drinks to make any hour happier. Featuring seasonal ingredients like fresh basil, berries, rhubarb, cucumber, and melon, these refreshing summer vodka cocktails will help you stay cool—and in good spirits—no matter how far the mercury rises. Shaken or stirred, you can't go wrong as long as you're eventually sipping on one of these summer cocktails with vodka.
Strawberry-Basil Smash
Have a bounty of basil in your herb garden? Smash it fresh strawberries, sugar, and a generous dose fresh lemon juice for a sweet-tart summer cocktail with vodka that tastes like summer in a glass. Everyone can finish their serving with a little—or a lot—of chilled sparkling water depending on how strong they prefer their cocktails.
Rhubarb Cocktail
If you lean toward drier wines and prefer less-sugary cocktails, this is the summer vodka drink for you. Instead of a standard one-to-one ratio or water and sugar, we start this easy seasonal sip with a fresh Rhubarb Syrup that is made with a five-to-one ratio for just enough sweetness to balance out the tang from the lime and rhubarb. Ginger lends zip and club soda brings the sparkle. All of the above team up to make this one bevvy that looks like it came straight from a fancy cocktail bar.
Cherry-Ginger Mule
Instead of standard lime and ginger beer, stoke your mule with fresh cherries, warmly-spiced fresh ginger, and refreshing mint. That unexpected combo stars in this summer vodka cocktail that just needs lime juice, ice, vodka (naturally) and a vigorous dance in a cocktail shaker to become glass-ready. Top it all off with a splash of sparkling water and more mint, and enjoy from a copper mug for the complete pub-style mule experience.
Chardonnay Creamsicle Punch
"Great for a batched cocktail for a group," a BHG reader raves, this summer drink with vodka is like your favorite white wine spritz taken to a whole new level. In addition to the Chardonnay and seltzer, this easy party drink recipe features citrus or regular vodka and lemon juice. Oh yes, we can't forget the two secret ingredients that provide the creamsicle flavors that justify the title: freshly-squeezed OJ and Vanilla-Thyme Syrup.
Basil Lemon Drop
You might want to make a double batch of this summer cocktail with vodka for your next soiree. One BHG home mixologist says I "made it for my party last week. I almost didn't get any, it went so fast!" Luckily, it's a breeze to mix up another round: Simply muddle fresh basil in the bottom of a pitcher, then stir in a party-starting amount of vodka, some fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Easy to make and easy to love!
Electric Lemonade
This slushy vodka cocktail recipe is perfect for summer! Mix up a frosty batch of icy lemonade and pour it over a shot of vodka. Fresh mint adds flavor and brightens up each sip.
Grapefruit, Champagne and Vodka Spritz
Put a twist on a spritz with this easy vodka drink. Simply mix up Aperol, Champagne, vodka, and grapefruit juice. Serve it in a flute glass garnished with a wedge of grapefruit.
Frozen Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is a classic vodka cocktail recipe and for good reason. It's delicious. Put a summer-ready spin on the original by making a frozen version. We'll walk you through exactly how to make a batch at home.
Sour Apple Martini
A sour apple martini is a retro cocktail recipe that totally deserves a comeback. It's a sweet and tart combination of sour apple schnapps and vodka. Garnish each glass with a maraschino cherry.
Espresso Martini
Shake up a batch of espresso martinis and you'll be ready for a summer party. We'll walk you through our Test Kitchen's favorite espresso martini recipe using vodka and coffee liqueur.
Limoncello
If you need a recipe with vodka that doubles as a thoughtful food gift, make limoncello! It's easy to transform a bottle of vodka into a lemony drink that's perfect for cocktails, cooking, and more. We recommend storing the finished vodka recipe in the fridge.