Top Vodka Drinks Inspired By The Sochi Winter Olympics

Gather some friends and your martini shaker to watch the rest of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Whether you’re a master mixologist, a student of an online culinary arts program or a winter sports fan, you can enjoy a few vodka cocktails inspired by Sochi. You can drink the vodka straight like a true Russian, or mix up some creative drinks. Get in the spirit of the Winter Olympics with these recipes that everyone will love:

Lemonade with thyme
Have you ever heard the saying, “if life gives you lemons, grab some vodka and make it a party?” Well, maybe not. But this drink stays true to that sentiment while adding a twist. Brew some homemade lemonade featuring fresh-squeezed citrus and make a thyme simple syrup. Mix the lemonade with the syrup, splash in some vodka and top it off with a sprig of thyme. This sweet and herbal drink is bracing yet delicious.

Cucumber Moscow mule
A classic Moscow mule features vodka, ginger beer and lime. Smooth out the flavor of the ginger and lime by adding a few slices of cucumber. You can complete the drink several ways, depending on the ingredients you find. For example, you can get flavored vodka (cucumber or ginger) or straight vodka. You can also choose ginger beer or ginger ale, depending on your tastes. Either way, top the drink with a slice of lime and cucumber.

Pear and vodka martini
Grab your martini shaker, pear juice, sparkling water, a pear and vodka to make this drink. Mix the pear juice, water and vodka in the shaker and pour it into a martini glass rimmed with sugar. Peal a small strip of the pear skin and drape it over the side of the glass. This classy drink is sweet and subtle.

Black cherry cocktail
This vodka drink is simple, but it’s interesting because of its color. Simply mix vodka with black cherry juice and pour it over ice. Consider adding a small sprig of rosemary or tarragon for an herbal twist. You can also pour a few drops of black food coloring to the drink for a truly dark cocktail.

Spiced bloody Mary
Add some extra heat to a classic bloody Mary for an interesting and bracing drink. Simply add extra Tabasco, some fresh chile and black pepper to a traditional drink. Squeeze lemon or lime into a shaker then add vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, celery salt and the chile. Mix it together and pour into a glass with a celery stick.