Citron Sipper Cocktail

By Colleen Graham

Updated 08/05/19

New Amsterdam Vodka Citron Sipper Cocktail
Westend61 / Getty Images
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 1 cocktail (1 serving)

The citron sipper is a simple and refreshing cocktail that is a perfect summer beverage. It pairs the invigorating taste of citrus vodka with the fresh flavors of cucumber and cilantro. Once you add syrup and soda, you're left with a cool cocktail that definitely has a garden-fresh feel.

The recipe comes from New Amsterdam Spirits and was originally designed to feature their Citron Vodka. That flavor has since been discontinued, though the brand does offer a lemon and an orange vodka, both of which are great tasting and budget-friendly vodkas that would be a delight in this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2–3 slices cucumber
  • 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka
  • Pinch of cilantro
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • 4 ounces lemon-lime soda (or enough to fill)
  • Garnish: cucumber slice
  • Garnish: cilantro

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber.

  3. Add the vodka, cilantro, and simple syrup, then fill the shaker with ice.

  4. Shake well and strain into a chilled collins glass filled with fresh ice.

  5. Top with soda and garnish with cucumber and cilantro.

  6. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • Any citrus vodka can be used in this cocktail. It's the most popular flavored vodka and the majority of vodka brands produce at least one option.
  • Quite often, "citrus" vodka refers to a blend of citrus fruits. You can certainly pour a vodka that features a lone fruit, including grapefruit, lemon, lime, or orange.
  • Fresh cilantro is best for cocktails. You can reduce the herb's flavor by tearing the leaves then adding them to the muddle. Remember that it's a very flavorful herb, so don't go overboard!

Recipe Variations

  • This is a perfect recipe to transform into a big-batch cocktail and serve by the pitcher. Make as much as you like, keeping the vodka to soda ratio somewhere around 1:4. For instance, to fill a 60-ounce pitcher filled with ice, begin with 1 cup of vodka and 4 cups of soda, sweetening it with 1/3 cup of syrup. Use a whole sliced cucumber and add a small sprig of cilantro to the muddle. Stir it up and adjust any ingredient as you see fit.
  • Good herbs to use as a substitute for cilantro include basil, mint, and sage. Each is mild in comparison to cilantro, so you can get away with a few leaves for a single cocktail and larger sprigs for a punch.

How Strong Is a Citron Sipper?

The standard strength for flavored vodka is 70 proof, though there are some 80-proof bottles out there. Either way, this is going to be a very mild cocktail, weighing in somewhere around 9 percent ABV (18 proof). That's perfectly normal for highball mixed drinks and it's actually lighter than sipping the average wine.