Kamikaze Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Colleen Graham
Updated 09/17/20
kamikaze cocktail

The Spruce 
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Serving: 1 serving
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
214 Calories
0g Fat
20g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 214
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 0g
Calcium 22mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The kamikaze is an iconic drink in the bar. It's one of the best-known vodka "martinis" and offers a sweet-tart taste that everyone is sure to enjoy. In fact, it's such a popular mix that there's also a kamikaze shooter and a number of other variations to explore.

If you look at the recipe, you'll notice that the kamikaze is quite simply a vodka margarita (it's also very similar to a daiquiri). The proportions to the famous tequila-lime cocktail are different, but the ingredients are the same. So, if you're one of those drinkers who doesn't like tequila for one reason or another, this is a great option.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce lime juice (fresh)
  • 1 ounce triple sec
  • Garnish: lime wedge​

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, pour the vodka, lime juice, and triple sec.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

  6. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • This is a cocktail where you want to pour the smoothest vodka in your bar. Use premium vodkas that you would typically enjoy on their own or in your vodka martini.
  • Fresh lime juice definitely produces a better tasting kamikaze. You should be able to get 1 ounce of juice out of a whole lime, which makes it super easy; just squeeze it directly into the shaker.
  • Ensure that the quality of the triple sec matches that of your vodka. Combier and Cointreau are two great options and you can also pour a high-end curaçao.

Recipe Variations

  • Adjust the ratio of the three ingredients to suit your taste. For instance, you might like a little more lime and prefer your kamikaze with 1 1/2 ounces of lime juice and just 1/2 ounce of the orange liqueur.
  • You can give the kamikaze a pretty blue color by pouring blue curaçao instead of triple sec.
  • This drink is a perfect candidate for flavored vodka and almost any fruit infusion works. Try it with berry, citrus, coconut, or pineapple vodkas. Pouring a vanilla vodka works well, too, making a drink similar to the key lime pie martini without the pineapple.
  • Another popular variation is a "SoCo" kamikaze, in which the vodka is replaced with Southern Comfort.

How Strong Is a Kamikaze Cocktail?

With a name like "kamikaze" you should expect this cocktail to pack a punch, and it does! It's a very strong martini, weighing in around 25 percent ABV (50 proof). That's typical of drinks in this style and over half the strength of the vodka itself. If you want to avoid a hangover, think twice about mixing up another round.

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