Vodka and Apple Juice. Seriously. It's so simple I barely even consider this a recipe! But it's SO good that I had to share it with you. 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.
This post was originally published on May 14, 2019 and has now been updated with new tips to make this easy cocktail perfectly every time.
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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.
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.
Why Apple Juice and Vodka Works
Cold-Pressed juice is where it's at. You could use it in any of these cocktails with apple juice. But also, 2-ingredient cocktails are my jam. So simple!
If you're willing to go up to 3 ingredients, check out my Cherry Vodka Sour. YUM!
Ingredient Notes
Yup. That's it. Just a few ingredients can really make something wonderful. Like a Vodka and Coke or a Vodka and Orange Juice (aka a Screwdriver), sometimes something super simple can be super tasty.
I really think the fresh herbs make this extra special. But you be the judge.
You can find a printable recipe card for this easy cocktail a little bit further down the post.
- Vodka
- Cold Pressed Apple Juice (or as close to it as you can find)
- Fresh Herbs
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!
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 (like this Muddled Tangerine and Basil Water) 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!
I've asked for this herb saver for my birthday! I'll let you know if it helps make them last longer!
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.
In fact, you should check out my list of tasty Apple Juice Cocktails to see more.
How to make apple juice and vodka
- To a tall glass of ice, add vodka. You can use a highball glass or whatever you have in your cupboard.
- 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.
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.
It prompted me to make a basil simple syrup. Which I used to make a Basil Margarita... I love herbs, have I mentioned that?
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.
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!
Tips and tricks
- 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 ½ 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.
- 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.
- For even more fresh herb flavor, consider using a flavored simple syrup. You can make a rosemary simple syrup (one that isn't super heavy on the sugar because apple juice is already pretty sweet) to add.
- Change up the flavors of this drink by using flavored vodka! Something desserty, like whipped cream, vanilla or caramel would be super tasty.
Use your favorite vodka in this cocktail. I grabbed Smirnoff, which is what I had in my cupboard, but I prefer Tito's vodka. It's a great price point and has a flavor that is delicious in mixed drinks.
Yes, this drink can be made spicy. You can easily muddle some jalapeno or serrano slices into the glass before adding the vodka and juice. Or, if you prefer, you can float a little cayenne pepper on top for a touch of heat as you swallow.
Traditional apple cider is pressed from apples and unfiltered. It should have a cloudy appearance. The bottled apple cider they sell in the grocery store all year long is usually clear and lacking in flavor. If you find a legit cider from an apple orchard or seasonal item available in the fall, then YES! Use that! Otherwise, look for something that isn't clear like the Honeycrisp version I mentioned.
Related Recipes
Vodka and Apple Juice
Ingredients
- 1 ½ 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.
Video
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.
- If you aren't a big drinker, start with 1 ounce and see how you like that. Most cocktails fall between 1-2 ounces of liquor.
- Clap fresh herbs between your hands a few times to lightly bruises the leaves and release the smell and oils when adding them to your cocktail.
- 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 can muddle the herbs in the glass with the vodka before you add the ice and apple juice for a little more herbal flavor.
- For even more fresh herb flavor, consider using an herb-infused simple syrup.
- Change up the flavors of this drink by using flavored vodka! Something desserty, like whipped cream, vanilla or caramel would be super tasty.
Lydia Guerra says
Love this idea of apple juice and Tito's! Going to try it out this weekend !
Sharon Garofalow says
Make sure to do the Honeycrisp apple juice! It has tons of flavor!!! Let me know what you think!