It’s so simple I barely even consider this a recipe! But it’s SO good that I had to share it with you. It’s Vodka and Apple Juice. Seriously. And it’s super refreshing. Topped with some fresh herbs, you’ve got yourself the world’s easiest cocktail idea. You know I love easy vodka recipes and this one does not disappoint!
You’re going to love how easy this is to make. And you’ll be surprised at just how much you like this. Especially since it’s just a few ingredients. 
Apple juice is not a go-to cocktail ingredient for me (although I did use it to make an Apple Juice Mojito and I LOVED that). But I definitely think it shouldn’t be overlooked.
I will say, I can be a little bit of a snob about apple juice. I never really liked it as a child and so it took me a while to find one that I liked.
The same thing happened to me with guacamole. I never liked it. Until a roommate, I had made it with parmesan cheese in it. Gross, right? But somehow it worked for me and it made me realize that I like avocados.
Then Chipotle showed up and it cemented my new found love of guacamole.
All that to say that until I found Honeycrisp apples, I never really liked apple juice. And then I tried Honeycrisp apple juice and REALLY liked it.
And that made me see that those thin, almost see through apple juices at the market are totally whack. Cold-Pressed juice is where it’s at.
The Easiest Apple Juice Cocktail
Yup. That’s it. Just a few ingredients can really make something wonderful. I really think the fresh herbs make this extra special. But you be the judge.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. vodka
- Cold Pressed Apple Juice to fill the glass (if you can’t find cold pressed at your store, pick up the Tree Top Honeycrisp Apple Juice from the bottled juice aisle – seriously SO good!)
- Fresh Herbs
I freaking LOVE fresh herbs in my cocktails. And I usually buy a bunch of different herbs and have them at home for various things. I make infused waters with them, infused wine and in cocktails whenever I can.
But I waste a lot of them since the herb bundles can be so much! I just figured out that they usually sell a little bundle (the herbs in the clear plastic containers) that they call Poultry Herbs.
It includes a few different herbs in the package which I love! The bundle I grabbed for this recipe had rosemary, thyme, and sage. I had enough herbs for this drink and a few other recipes and no waste!
Can you Mix Vodka and Apple Juice?
Yes. Duh. I don’t mean to be short with you. But yes, vodka is pretty subtle in flavor and pairs well with so many things.
Steps:
- To a tall glass of ice, add vodka.
I’ve been making all kinds of vodka cocktails lately. And in my research, a lot of the recipes call for 2 ounces of vodka. But I’m a bit of a lightweight. So I usually will start with 1 – 1 1/2 ounces and see how I like that. I’m not judging you if you like 2 ounces of vodka, it’s just not always what I like. 
- Add the apple juice.
- Give it a quick stir.
Yes, you could use a normal spoon to stir, but a bar spoon is just so pretty.
- Add the fresh herbs.
The best thing to do when using fresh herbs in cocktails is to clap them between your hands a few times. It lightly bruises the leaves and releases the smell and oils.
The herbs won’t flavor this drink too much if you just add it in as a garnish. But it will delight the nose with each sip. You absolutely can muddle the herbs in the glass with the vodka before you add the apple juice for a little more herby flavor.
Or even better, you can make a rosemary simple syrup (one that isn’t super heavy on the sugar because apple juice is already pretty sweet).
I just got back from a quick trip to Palm Springs where we had a few cocktails with rosemary syrup and they were STUPID DELICIOUS. I’ll be coming up with some of my own recipes really soon because I can’t stop thinking about them!
SO good! I promise you. There’s just something about this rich apple flavor with fresh herbs. And while you get a little bit of the vodka, it pairs so perfectly together!
SO easy! I promise you. You don’t even really need to measure this Vodka Apple Juice situation. You can just eyeball it if you are comfortable with that. I’m terrible at estimating so I would probably accidentally pour 4 ounces of vodka.
And that wouldn’t be good. Well, after a few sips it would be better and I probably wouldn’t even care about the flavor that much anymore…
I think, technically, this can be called an Appletini. Because it’s really just apple and vodka. And a vodka martini is pretty much vodka. So if I had put this in a martini glass, it could have been an Appletini. In a tall glass like this, it’s Vodka and Apple Juice.
Also, in my head, Appletinis are a bright green color. Maybe from apple flavored vodka? I’m not sure. All I know is I prefer this recipe to something that looks like it glows in the dark.
Printable Vodka and Apple Juice Recipe
Vodka and Apple Juice
It's the easiest cocktail to make and you are going to totally dig it! But do NOT skip the fresh herbs. This Vodka and Apple Juice Cocktail just isn't the same without it!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Vodka
- 5 oz Apple Juice Approximately 5 oz, you'll basically fill your glass the rest of the way
- fresh herbs
Instructions
Add ice to a high ball glass.
Add vodka and apple juice.
Stir with a bar spoon.
Clap fresh herbs between your palms to release their fragrance and oils then garnish the drink.
Recipe Notes
I prefer to use cold-pressed juice or Tree Top Honeycrisp apple juice. Or fresh if you want to get all into it and get your juicer out. I'm far too lazy for that.
More Easy Cocktails to Try
Pin This Vodka Apple Juice Cocktail for Later
If you’re a fan of easy mixed drinks, you definitely need to try this super simple Vodka and Apple Juice recipe! It’s refreshing and perfect for a warm day. And you can change up the herbs to subtly change the flavor. You’re going to love this!
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