I created this lemon vodka cocktail because I wanted a zingy lemon cocktail but I only had a random set of ingredients.
It turns out that I never have simple syrup on hand and it seems like all of the fun drinks call for it.
I totally understand why most lemon drink recipes call for that perfect mixture of sweet and tart.
So I had a decision to make. I could take the time to make some homemade simple syrup or I could improvise.
Now, I admit that it doesn’t take long to make simple syrup, but I was in a hurry.
What I decided to do is just add a bit of sugar to the cocktail shaker and see how it turned out.
It worked out.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised. Now, Andi thought that it needed to be a bit sweeter but I liked it.
I don’t like overly sweet things to begin with. I am the gal who eats dark chocolate that is 90% dark.
By the way, most lemon vodka cocktails call for one and one half ounces of vodka. I only use an ounce because I don’t like too much booze.
I make up the difference in the ratio by adding extra fizzy water. If you want to add an extra half ounce of vodka to the cocktail, feel free.

What are the ingredients in this drink?
Vodka – We have some Grey Goose on hand from a party a year ago, so I used that.
I do think better vodka makes a better cocktail.
However, I wouldn’t get too caught up on that because this is a lemon vodka drink after all, and lemon is going to be the hero.
Vodka quality really comes into play in a martini recipe because the vodka is the star.
Lemon – As I said above, I took the lazy route for this vodka cocktail. This means that I used lemon juice from a bottle.
We keep large containers of lemon juice on hand because Andi uses it in her water daily.
If I were making this cocktail at a party, I would fresh-squeeze lemon wedges. It is just better.
Cointreau – This is the only kind of orange liqueur that I keep in the house. If you don’t have any, you could substitute Grand Marnier.
Sugar – I just used a small bit of plain white table sugar. I didn’t get fancy here.
Soda Water – We are addicted to soda water here. There are two types of water in our house. You can have sad water or you can have fizzy water.
Sad water is water without fizz. It is just sad.
We have a SodaStream Machine upstairs and down here. So I just used that to make my soda water.
However, you could use LaCroix or any type of club soda or seltzer that you have on hand.
Ice – Now, I have strong feelings about this. I really prefer to use crushed ice when mixing cocktails.
The reason for this is because I like to water down my cocktails a bit.
Crushed ice melts faster and I get a bit of that nice cold water when shaking the cocktails.
This is just a personal preference and by no means do you have to follow my lead on this.

What is Cointreau?
Cointreau is a clear liqueur that is orange flavored.
It does have alcohol in it, so do keep that in mind. It is labeled as 80 proof, essentially triple sec.
It also has hints of other spices such as cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.
It complements other flavors such as lemon or lime quite well.
This is why it is so popular to use in margaritas and cosmos.

The bottom line
This is an easy lemon vodka cocktail.
I actually call it my “lazy girl option” because I use bottled lemon juice and table sugar.
If you are looking for a refreshing cocktail without a lot of work, give this one a try.
No rim or garnish necessary, unless you are taking photos. (wink)

Lemon Vodka Cocktail
This is my version of an easy lemon vodka cocktail. You only need a few ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz orange liqueur like Cointreau
- 3 T lemon juice
- 1/2 t sugar
- Soda water
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except for soda water to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake everything for up to 1 minute or until everything is cold.
- Pour into a martini or old-fashioned glass (or red solo cup if you’re not feeling fancy).
- Top off with soda water.
- Drink chilled!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 124Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 44mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 0g