National Vodka Day, Oct. 4, falls on a Monday this year. Which is a great reason to offer some inspired vodka cocktails and help guests shake up the start of the week.

Not open on Mondays? Call it Vodka Week and see if you can drum up some additional drink sales. Here are seven vodka cocktail recipes we like. (You’ll find more vodka cocktail recipes, plus a vodka feature, in the Fall issue of Cheers.)

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Out of Office ⁠

Course Drinks

Keyword coconut, Grey Goose vodka, pandan

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Coconut-washed Grey Goose vodka⁠
• 1 ½ oz. Panadan vermouth*⁠
• ½ oz. Citric acid⁠
• ½ oz. Simple syrup⁠
• 2-3 dashes Orange bitters⁠

Instructions

• Lightly whip into cocktail shaker with one or two ice cubes.
• Strain over crushed ice into a Collins glass.
• Garnish with a banana leaf.

Notes

*For Pandan vermouth: Combine 1 can pandan jelly and 2 bottles Dolin Blanc vermouth into a sous vide bag, sous vide at 150 for 45 min.⁠

Rebecca Monday, general manager of Vaso in Dublin, OH, created this recipe.

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Rose Gulab

Course Drinks

Keyword Ketel One vodka, Pomegranate syrup, vodka

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Ketel One vodka
• ¾ oz. Pomegranate syrup
• ¾ oz. Lemon juice

Instructions

• Add all the ingredients into a shaker.
• Fill with ice.
• Shake and strain into a glass.
• Garnish drink with 4 to 6 rose petals and a spritz of lemon zest.

Notes

The mixologists at Byblos Miami created this recipe.

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A Head of Lettuce

Course Drinks

Keyword lettuce, vodka, Wheatley vodka

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Wheatley vodka
• 1 oz. Fresh-pressed citrus juice
• 1 oz. Cane syrup
• 1 leaf Romaine lettuce
• Bar spoon Olive oil

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients into a shaker tin.
• Shake for 10 seconds.
• Double strain and serve in a chilled coup.
• Garnish with salt, pepper and chili oil.

Notes

The mixologists at Warren in Delray Beach, FL, created this recipe.

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Strawberry Basil Martini

Course Drinks

Keyword basil, strawberry, Tito’s vodka, vodka

Ingredients

• 3 Strawberries
• 2 Basil leaves
• 1 oz. Simple syrup
• 2 oz. Tito’s vodka
• Juice of one lime
• Juice of one lemon

Instructions

• In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries with the basil and simple syrup.
• Add ice and the remaining ingredients and shake well.
• Strain liquid into a chilled Martini glass.
• Garnish with a basil leaf.

Notes

Ervin Machado, beverage director for Louie Bossi’s Ristorante, Bar and Pizzeria in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, created this recipe.

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Honey Deux

Keyword Grey Goose vodka, melon liquor, vodka

Ingredients

• 2 ½ oz. Grey Goose vodka
• ¼ oz. Homemade melon cordial
• ¼ oz. French melon liquor
• 3 Frozen gooseberries

Instructions

• Combine ingredients and shake.
• Strain over pebble ice into highball.
• Mound ice and garnish with 3 frozen gooseberries on a long pick.

Notes

Mixologist Devan van Eyck of Festivál Café in New York created this recipe for the 2021 U.S. Open.

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Evergreen Royal

Course Drinks

Keyword Angostura bitters, Belvedere vodka, Chamomile tea, honey, vodka

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Belvedere Smogóry Forest vodka
• ¼ oz. Chamomile tea
• ½ oz. Honey
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Grapefruit Peel

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to mixing glass over cubed ice and stir.
• Fine strain into a rocks glass over block ice.
• Garnish with a fresh grapefruit peel twist.

Notes

The mixologists at Belvedere created this recipe.

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Living My Best Life

Course Drinks

Keyword Fever Tree elderflower tonic water, lemon, Lychee, vodka

Ingredients

• ½ oz. Lemon juice
• 1 oz. Lychee syrup*
• 1 ½ oz. Vodka
• 1 ½ oz. Fever Tree elderflower tonic water

Instructions

• Build in a Collins glass over cubed ice.
• Stir together.
• Garnish with an orchid flower.

Notes

*For Lychee syrup*
4 oz. Perfect Puree lychee puree
2 oz. Simple syrup
1 oz. Giffard Lichee-Li liqueur

Combine all ingredients and stir. Store at room temperature. Shelf life is 2 weeks

The mixologists at Chica in Miami created this recipe