The right drink can bring you to the beach.
Vodka, with its clean flavor and clear color, is an ideal liquor for mixed drinks and cocktails. Although many people find straight vodka too strong to be enjoyable, they enjoy vodka mixers where the sweetness of fruit juice and flavored liqueurs neutralizes vodka's potentially harsh taste. Be careful when selecting your vodka--quality counts, and as with other things you may have to pay for that quality. Fortunately, most liquor stores carry affordable vodkas ideal for mixing; ask the liquor store clerk for suggestions.
Bay Breeze
The pineapple juice in a bay breeze will instantly take you to warm summer nights and balmy breezes. To make, combine 1 ounce of vodka with 2 ounces of cranberry juice and 4 ounces of pineapple juice. Stir and pour into a collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with a pineapple slice.
Blue Hawaii
A blue Hawaii is the vodka equivalent of a daiquiri, and can be made frozen or on the rocks. To make a frozen blue Hawaii, pour 1 1/2 ounces of vodka, 1/2 ounce Blue Curacao, 1/4 ounce Creme de Coconut, 4 ounces of pineapple juice and 1 cup of ice to into a blender. Blend well, insuring all the ice is crushed, and pour into a chilled glass. To make a blue Hawaii on the rocks, pour the ingredients above into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake well, and pour into a glass.
Top Banana
Nothing says tropical quite like the flavor of banana found in a top banana cocktail. To make a top banana mix 1 ounce of vodka, 1 ounce Creme de Banana, and 1 ounce of orange juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and mix well. Strain and pour into a cold glass.
Tropical Itch
A tropical itch, like its name suggests, will make you "itch" for warm weather and tropical nights. To make add 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce rum, 1/2 ounce Orange Curacao and 4 ounces of passion fruit juice to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously to mix. Pour into a collins glass.
West Coast Sex on the Beach
Peach, pineapple, and orange lend their tropical fruity flavors to this drink. To make, combine 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce peach schnapps in a glass. Add equal parts cranberry, pineapple and orange juices to fill the glass and mix.
Pacific Splash
A pacific splash mixes pineapple and cranberry-apple juice for a unique flavor and pinkish hue. To make, pour 1 ounce of vodka and 2 ounces each of pineapple and cranberry juice into a glass. Top with ice and mix well.
Melon Ball
A melon ball cocktail gets its light sweetness from the addition of Midori, a melon flavored liqueur. To make, fill a collins glass with ice and add 1 ounce of vodka and 1 ounce of Midori. Top with orange juice and garnish with a maraschino cherry or orange slice.
Nectarine-Honey Cocktail
A nectarine-honey cocktail blends honey syrup, club soda and nectarine slices for a refreshingly sweet drink. To make a nectarine-honey cocktail, first make honey syrup by combining one part honey with one part warm water, mixing well. Pour 1 ounce of honey syrup into a tall glass such as a pint glass. Add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka, 1/2 ounce of lemon juice, and 1/2 of a sliced nectarine to the glass, stirring well to mix. Add ice and top with cold club soda.
Tags: ounce vodka, vodka ounce, ounce vodka ounce, cocktail shaker, collins glass, honey syrup, pineapple juice