An old friend I haven’t seen for a few years is coming to visit me tonight. A survey of my funds revealed the usual zero so there will be no going out for entertainment.
Fortunatly I have a beach within a block from my house and I’ve managed to hang onto the fifth of Grey Goose vodka I recieved for my birthday. Combining those two ingredients with the warm weather should make for some fun.
What I need from you wonderful people is some tips on what to mix with said vodka other than OJ. The cheaper the better too, since I will be hitting up friend to buy the mixer.
I have until about 10:00 pm to come up with something.
You could also do cranberry juice and a slice of lime, or perhaps simply pineapple juice; it was mentioned in another thread as a vodka mixer & I can attest to the tastiness of the combo.
Well, I usually go for grapefruit juice or cranberry juice. Grapefruit and vodka makes a Greyhound (salt the rim and you have a Salty Dog, which I have personally not done), and IIRC, cranberry and vodka makes a Cape Cod. I almost never go for orange juice, because it doesn’t do a whole lot to kill the nasty alcohol taste.
Seems a shame to overpower a premium vodka with tonic or OJ. This friend you’re going to hit up for mixer, would he or she have any Vermouth? You could borrow some and make vodka “martinis.” It only takes a tiny splash of Vermouth, so you wouldn’t be using it all up.
Otherwise, I’d say tonic is your cheapest bet. You can get a one liter of the name brand tonic water for something like $1-$1.50 or, if you go to a regular grocery store you can get a store brand two liter bottle for something like a $1.00. Around here at least, it’s almost always on sale.
Go with Greyhounds. Only - do NOT use prepackaged grapefruit juice. Head off to the closest grocery and buy a whole pile of yellow grapefruit. You can use the pink-fleshed (“ruby”) ones if that’s all they have, but the yellow-fleshed ones are much better for greyhounds.
Juice those puppies. If you don’t have a citrus juicer, just put a small bowl upside down in a bigger bowl or pie tin or whatever you do have. Juice 'em up.
Combine the juice with a shot or two of vodka per glass and serve on the rocks. Heavenly.
And if you don’t have the cash or don’t feel like juicing grapefruit or for whatever reason are tempted to use pre-packaged grapefruit juice, don’t bother. This is one of those recipes that is almost ethereal in its goodness if done with freshly squeezed juice, and simply “meh” if done with anything else.
If you had more time, I’d suggest you buy a whole large watermelon, dig or cut a small round hole in the top, and slowly pour in the better part of your vodka bottle. Then chill it in the fridge as long as possible, and slice it open for your guests for delicious, cool, refreshing “drunken melon” snacks. This is a perfect summer party treat, and everyone is always impressed.
That said, it seems almost a waste of Grey Goose vodka to fill a watermelon. That’s such a nice, high-end vodka, you might as well save it for martinis (if you like them; I sure don’t!) or “nicer” mixed drinks.