Vanilla Lime Vodka Refresher

Looking for a quick, easy and delicious summer cocktail? This Vanilla Lime Vodka Refresher is the perfect pick! With just four ingredients, including a touch of sweet elderflower liqueur, it's so easy to make, and it's super crisp and refreshing too!

This is the perfect poolside drink, in my opinion! The vanilla and lime contrast each other, bringing both warm and tangy flavors into the mix. And the elderflower liqueur really ties everything together with some added sweetness.

If you're on the hunt for some more summertime sips, these will be right up your alley! Try out the Blue Gin & Tonic for a sweet and simple twist on the classic G&T. The Hugo Spritz is another summery sip using elderflower liqueur. Or, try out either the Vodka Press or the Dirty Shirley for a delicious lemon-lime vodka drink.

Ingredients

You'll just need four ingredients for this drink:

• Vanilla vodka (Stoli vanilla vodka)
• Elderflower liqueur (St Germain elderflower liqueur)
• Lime juice
• Lime seltzer

For a garnish, I just used a slice of lime and some of the lime peel. You could also use some fresh mint, or even an orchid to represent the vanilla!

Substitutions

If you don't have any vanilla vodka, you can use plain vodka, but add a couple drops of vanilla extract along with it. Or, you can use vanilla rum instead.

To substitute the elderflower liqueur, you can use limoncello or an orange liqueur like Cointreau. Or, to pump up the vanilla flavor, try using Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur with a lot of vanilla flavor notes.

Variations

Here are some variations on this recipe:

• Keto Friendly version - instead of the elderflower liqueur, try using a sugar free syrup in its place. Try Jordans Skinny Syrups Lemon Elderflower for a similar flavor.
• Non-alcoholic version - if you're avoiding alcohol, you'll need to substitute out the vodka as well as the elderflower liqueur. If you can find a vanilla seltzer, try that in place of the vodka (Hal's brand has a vanilla flavor). Try d'arbo Elderflower Syrup in place of the liqueur.
• Berry flavor - try smashing up some blackberries in the cocktail shaker before making the drink. Or, you can even add in some berry jam.

Equipment

You'll mainly need a cocktail shaker, strainer and a jigger to mix up this drink! For fresh lime juice, you will also need a citrus juicer (or just squeeze it by hand).

For the cocktail serving glass, you can use a highball glass or a tumbler. Ideally, around 12-15 ounces in capacity (~360 to 450ml) to make enough room for the ice.

If you'll be making the lime slice garnish, you'll just need a knife and cutting board. But if you also want to make the lime peel garnish, grab a vegetable peeler and a paring knife too.

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Instructions

Start out by preparing the garnishes if you're using them. For the lime peel, use a vegetable peeler to pare off a large piece of peel.

Then, use a paring knife to shape it into a leaf shape, and cut a slit down the middle where we'll use it to attach to the rim of the glass.

For the lime slice, just cut a thin slice from the center of the lime after cutting it in half.

Set them both aside while you make the drink.

To make the drink itself, add in the lime juice and elderflower liqueur to the cocktail shaker.

Add the vanilla vodka and fill the shaker with ice.

Seal up the shaker and shake vigorously, about 15-20 times.

Then, fill up your serving glass with fresh ice. Strain the drink into the glass.

Fill the rest of the glass with the seltzer.

Then, add the lime peel garnish to the rim of the glass, and the lime slice to the inside of the glass.

Serve and enjoy!

Hint: If you can, refrigerate all of your ingredients before making the drink (including the glass!) This will slow the melting of the ice and keep it colder longer.

Top tip

If you want to make this drink ahead of time, you can mix together the vodka, liqueur and lime juice together in a container. Keep it chilled until you're ready to serve. (I suggest no more than an hour ahead of time to keep the lime juice at its best.)

When you're ready, fill a glass with ice, pour in your prepared drink and then top it with the seltzer. Cheers!