Vodka and apple juice sound like something you’d make in college when you ran out of everything else, or you really wanted to hide the taste of alcohol. But with good apple juice and a smooth vodka, it can be a nice drink even grownups enjoy.

A quality apple juice, not what you drank out of the juice box when you were a kid, is the key to making this work. If you can find fresh-pressed cloudy apple juice the taste will be much better than the translucent stuff you find on the grocery store shelf.

Which Vodka?

Tito’s, Ketel One, or Grey Goose are all solid here. Because apple juice has real flavor, the vodka plays a supporting role more than a leading one. That means you have flexibility on brand, but you still want something that doesn’t have a harsh finish.

The apple juice

Fresh-pressed cloudy apple juice is the best option. It has actual apple flavor, a little tartness, and a natural earthiness that makes the drink interesting. Look for it in the refrigerated section of a grocery store or at a farmers market in fall.

Clear shelf-stable apple juice works, but it runs sweeter and flat. If that’s what you have, add a squeeze of lemon to give it a little pop.

Cocktail Ratios

2 oz vodka to 4 oz apple juice is the starting point. Apple juice is sweeter than most citrus-based mixers, so if the drink tastes flat or too sweet, a squeeze of lemon or a small splash of soda water should fix it.

Garnish

A thin apple slice on the rim looks clean and reinforces what’s in the glass. A cinnamon stick in fall adds warmth and aroma.

More in the cocktail garnishes guide.

Autumn 3-Ingredient Version

Add a drizzle of caramel syrup before topping with apple juice and stir to combine. The caramel adds sweetness and a richness that leans the whole drink toward pumpkin patches in autumn. A pinch of cinnamon dusted on top adds aroma.

This version is good for a crowd and easy to batch in a pitcher.

Alternatively, add half an ounce of fresh lemon juice for a brighter, more balanced version that works year-round.

Mocktail Version

Simply mix fresh-pressed apple juice with sparkling water in a 3:1 ratio, then add a squeeze of lemon. The sparkling water lightens the sweetness and adds some life to the drink.

A cinnamon stick stirred in adds a seasonal twist in the fall.

More 2-Ingredient Vodka Cocktails:

• Vodka Apple
• Vodka Coffee
• Vodka Cranberry
• Vodka Guava
• Vodka Iced Tea
• Vodka Lemonade
• Vodka Pineapple
• Vodka Soda
• Vodka Sprite
• Vodka Tonic
• Vodka Watermelon
• Screwdriver

Other vodka cocktails to try

• Pear Ginger Sour
• Spiced Persimmon Smash
• Maple Cranberry Smash

Vodka and Apple Juice

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 4 oz apple juice (fresh-pressed preferred)
• Apple slice or cinnamon stick, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add vodka.
3. Top with apple juice and stir gently.
4. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick.

Fall Version

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 4 oz apple juice
• ¼ oz caramel syrup (or ½ oz fresh lemon juice for a brighter version)
• Pinch of cinnamon and apple slice, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and caramel syrup (or lemon juice).
3. Top with apple juice and stir gently.
4. Dust with a pinch of cinnamon and garnish with an apple slice.