Need a new cocktail to replace Vodka/Redbull. Recommendations?

[Foxhound3857]

Though my favorite vegas cocktail is the Vodka Redbull, I'm at an age now where energy drinks in general are very, very bad for me, so much as I'm reluctant to, I need to stop drinking them, therefore I'm on the hunt for another staple cocktail that I can enjoy while I'm at a bar playing video poker.

I'm looking for something fruity and colorful that's very tart or even sour, with a vodka base where the taste of alcohol is noticeable but not overpowering, that I can sip for some time and don't have to down quickly. One that was recommended to me is a sour apple martini, so I'm thinking about getting the ingredients for that just to experiment. I also like carbonation, so another idea was champagne + sour apple pucker.

Before the Vodka Redbull I used to drink AMF's, but those would get me tipsy almost immediately. They were potent as all hell. So it has to be something I can enjoy at a reasonable pace and not get intoxicated too quickly. My friends make fun of me because I can't just be a normal guy and enjoy a beer or something that tastes like gasoline, but hey, I am what I am.

Any recommendations?

 

[Timhags]

Whiskey sour has worked for me in my later years

 

[ronandannette]

Keep it simple - vodka and cranberry juice. If you like it carbonated have them press it with a little club soda.

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

Are you drinking drink to a good amount where you would be potentially hungover the next day? I ask that because I would eliminate anything with too much sugar or citrus.
Tbh, I'm not sure if ordering a sour apple martini will help you not be made fun of by your guy friends.
Also, what is the profile of the bars you're usually going to? Can they make much outside of two ingredient drinks like vodka red bull, gin and tonic?
Are you super stuck on vodka? If so, I'd say go with a vodka soda with muddled lime, screwdriver, vodka coke, or maybe a manmosa (mimosa with vodka on ice). Make them tall singles if you're not trying to get too drunk too fast, or tall doubles if you're trying to save a little cash.
If you're not stuck on vodka, I would switch to a margarita if the bar has a decent mix (not super sweet fake stuff), or just try other two ingredient drinks like whiskey coke, or whiskey ginger or gin and soda.

Essentially you should just start ordering new things and see if you like them and if they agree with your price point.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I always drink a bottle of water after every two cocktails. Usually keeps me from having a hangover the next day, a bad one at least.

I'm pretty much a vodka person, though champagne is good too. I do like screwdrivers, not a fan of vodka cranberry though, the vodka taste is usually overpowering by virtue of bitterness alone.

Mimosa sounds pretty good actually, though I'm sure I'll get made fun of for that too. Whatever, I make no apologies for being a wimp.

 

[Timhags]

I can drink but still order mimosa from time to time, even in front of my boys

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

You can always ask for it on ice in a rocks glass, or tall glass.

 

[Timhags]

You can always ask for it on ice in a rocks glass, or tall glass.

Yes u could but if I'm gonna do it I'm gonna do it right

 

[Foxhound3857]

You can always ask for it on ice in a rocks glass, or tall glass.

Is that an actual cocktail? Mimosa on the rocks?

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

Is that an actual cocktail? Mimosa on the rocks?

Not an official one I think but live your dreams, do what you want

 

[SteveH]

A couple from the Tiki Community to check out

Rangoon Gimlet
1 oz vodka
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
1/2 oz fresh lime juice (yes fresh not from a bottle... ever)
3/4 oz rich Demerara simple syrup
7-8 oz crushed ice

Blue Hawaii
3oz pineapple
1 oz sweet sour
1/2oz blue curacao
3/4oz white rum
3/4oz vodka

The Mango Cooler
3 oz mango nectar
1 1/2 oz OJ
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz cointreau
1 1/2 oz vodka

 

[kimblebee]

Long Island iced tea!!

It’s my go to and it’s hard to mess up. DON’T buy the premade mix you can buy at a store. It’s not fruity but it does have vodka in it. The alcohol doesn’t smack you in the face, but you know it’s there.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I'm a big fruity vodka drink kind of girl and also went to bartending school where I learned a few drinks, so hopefully some of these will help.

Electric Lemonade- pretty blue color, citrusy and a bit sour (citrus vodka, Blue Curacao, sour mix, sprite)

Blue Lagoon- also a pretty blue, tastes like lemonade with a slight orange flavor (vodka, Blue Curacao, lemonade)

Pearl Harbor- lime green color, tastes like tropical fruits (vodka, Midori, pineapple juice)

Lemon drop Martini- slight yellow hue, obviously tastes like lemon drop candy (vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice)

Orange Crush- is the yellowish-orange of orange juice, tastes a bit like Orange Crush soda/pop (vodka, oj, triple sec, sprite)

Blue Banana- blueish-green, tastes like tropical fruits and is SO good. Had this for the first time in Vegas, though not all bars will have the ingredients (vodka, Island Punch Pucker, Creme de banana liqueur, pineapple juice)

Sour Green Apple Cocktail- lime green, a bit sour and reminds me of green apple jolly ranchers. Many bartenders probably won't be familiar with the name (or may confuse it with the Appletini which is very different), but it's pretty easy to make if they have the ingredients (shake equal parts green apple vodka, apple pucker, Midori, and sour mix with ice, strain into a glass and fill with Sprite)

Purple Haze- many different variations on this, but my favorite is equal parts citrus vodka, Chambord, and sprite. It's a reddish-purple color, a tad sweet, and tastes like black raspberries. Another popular version is vodka, Blue Curacao, and cranberry. It has a deeper purple hue. Can't speak to the taste as I can't do cranberry.

What I tend to make/order most due to the simplicity is raspberry vodka and Sprite. To mix it up a little, I sometimes add/order a floater of Blue Curacao, grenadine, or any kind of fruity Pucker to change the color and mix up the flavor. The downside is this is generally served in a low ball/rocks glass with ice. I love ice in drinks, but that combined with the glass size means a) there's less actual drink than most of the above cocktails so you're bound to go through it quicker, and b) you don't really want to take forever drinking it or it'll get watered down. I have on occasion asked for a double in a tall glass, shaken, no ice, which does solve both those issues.

Also consider asking the bartender if they have any recommendations. I've found that many bartenders (especially in Vegas) have some unique drinks in their repertoire.

 

[pahoben]

I think it’s a big mistake and unhealthy to adulterate vodka with any other liquid. Try double shots neat and tell me you don’t feel better.

 

[C&Jx2]

I do Dirty Shirleys or raspberry vodka with Sprite. Sometimes I’ll do blueberry vodka with lemonade.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Cheery vodka sour?

1-to-1 voda and sour mix, splash (or maybe a little more, depending on the size of the drink) of grenadine.

 

[Anchored]

whiskey sour, long island ice tea, lemon drop

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Long island ice tea is my go-to, but I wouldn't call that sour. Well, that an Old Fashioned, or a Rum and Coke, but those don't have vodka.

 

[okeydokey]

Moscow Mule!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

My summer fave (at home) is Simply Fresh Limeade and vodka soooo good. Or the Simply Fresh Raspberry Lemonade (a little too sweet for me though, but still good). When I'm out, either mojito, or vodka soda with lemon wedge.