Lemon-lime soda and club soda work together with vodka to create a satisfying and harmoniously simple cocktail.
When introduced to the Vodka Press, I was immediately struck by its use of two different types of soda. I must’ve been living in a pineapple under the sea for never having come across a drink like this before. As simple as the concept is, this was the first time I experienced it. In fact, I had never experienced so much fizz flying up my nose until I took my first sip. The Vodka Press was the bubbliest beverage I had ever imbibed.
Naturally, my imagination started to work overtime. It’s called a Vodka Press, so my brain automatically created images of waves of club soda and walls of Sprite or 7UP “pressing” up against the vodka from either side, literally making the spirit’s flavor pop forward. That had to be where this cocktail got its name, right? Wrong.
The “press” portion of the drink’s name comes from another cocktail, the Presbyterian. That beverage, as old as the 1890s, mixed Scotch or rye whiskey with ginger ale and club soda. The name either came from the Scottish origins of the church itself or as a tongue-in-cheek joke referencing the teetotaler lifestyle of many devoutly religious folk. Anyway, Press is short for Presbyterian.
What is the Best Vodka to Use in a Vodka Press?
You can play around with the different flavored vodkas that are on the shelf at your local grocery store or spirit shop, but I like to let the soft drink and club soda mixture in this cocktail do the tasty work. Choosing a good mid-to-top shelf grain- or wheat-distilled vodka adds the right spicy notes that lie just below the citrus of the fizzy ingredients. This drink is best when it leans on the lighter and fresher side of flavor country.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces lemon-lime soda such as Sprite or 7UP
- 2 ounces club soda to top
- Lemon or lime wedge to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in 2 ounces of vodka. For a lighter version, feel free to use just 1 ounce.
- Gently add the lemon-lime soda to the glass.
- Top off with the club soda.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish does a Vodka Press need?
A highball or collins glass, filled to the brim with ice, will keep your cocktail cold and bubbly much longer than a shorter and wider receptacle would. And you can garnish with either a lemon or lime wedge; both will work wonderfully.
Can “press” mean something else when referring to this cocktail?
It can. “Press” in the cocktail and bartending world can also mean topping a spirit with equal parts club soda and whatever soft drink the mixture calls for.
Similar Cocktails to the Vodka Press
Some of my favorite cocktails tend be of the bubble and fizz-filled variety. I’ve written about a number of them here at Twist & Toast, so let me share a few with you below. You might find your next favorite drink with us.
- Gin Fizz – Frothy, smooth, and crisp, the Gin Fizz fast became one of my go-to weekend tipples.
- Vodka Soda – Just vodka and soda make up the Vodka Soda, a simple and refreshing classic.
- Gin Rickey – This tart and tangy libation is sure to keep you cool on those hot and humid summer nights.
- 7 & 7 – Seagram’s and 7UP give this iconic “tough guy” drink its name.
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