You're in the mood for a cocktail, but you're looking for something that's crystal clear, and maybe a touch lighter than usual. You're in luck. These clean and clear cocktails may be shy of color, but they're certainly not short on flavor. Or booze. Grab that club soda, we're going to be dressing it up.
Martini
Crisp with nothing fancy, although that depends on your garnish, as some of us love a nice blue cheese-stuffed olive.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka OR gin
- ¾ ounce dry vermouth
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Olives for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, vodka, dry vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with olives.
Vodka Soda
Crystal clear and a clean cocktail to boot, the vodka soda is a fallback for a reason.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks or highball glass, add ice and vodka.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Quick Tip
Infuse your vodka with fruit or vegetable flavor to give it some extra flavor without any extra sugar or color.
Gin and Tonic
The gin and tonic? Absolute perfection. Although some of us might be biased. Try it, and you'll understand.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks or highball glass, add ice and gin.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Now Let Me Be Clear
If you want to clean up this cocktail, you can infuse your tequila with pears for a healthier, cleaner cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- ¾ ounce pear liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- 2 ounces club soda
- Pear slice and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, pear liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Add club soda.
- Garnish with a pear slice and thyme sprig.
Vodka Basil Smash
Once in a while, or semi-regularly, you have a surplus of basil that's on the verge of going bad. Why not whip up a clean and herbaceous cocktail?
Ingredients
- 1-2 fresh basil leaves
- 3-4 fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Basil sprig, lemon wheel, and strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle basil leaves and strawberries with lemon juice.
- Add ice and vodka.
- Shake to chill.
- Double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with a basil sprig, lemon wheel, and strawberry slice.
Clear and Clean Colada
Don't stress about whether to indulge in the summer flavors of a piña colada. This bubbly version delivers.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pineapple-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Coconut club soda to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, pineapple vodka, and lime juice.
- Top off with coconut club soda.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Clean Margarita
LPT: Infuse your tequila with limes for a bolder, citrus clean marg.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Lime club soda to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In wine glass, add ice, tequila, and orange juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with lime club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Clean Cocktail Spritzer
A simple three-ingredient clean cocktail? Dreams do, in fact, come true.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple-infused vodka
- 2-3 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, apple vodka, and cinnamon bitters.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with an apple slice.
Crystal Cocktail Life
Clean cocktails don't mean boring cocktails. Thank goodness. Let these be your guide for clear cocktails that, if we must say, are clearly a hit. And we think you'll love them too.
