Make a Vodka and Coke With the Perfect Ratio

Vodka and Coke is the ultimate easy vodka cocktail! Here’s the ratio for how to make it and a few ideas on how to step it up.

Here’s one of the easiest vodka cocktails on the planet: Vodka and Coke! This variation on the classic rum and Coke might sound a little low-brow, but this tried-and-true combination is a legit cocktail to add to your collection.

Because vodka is pretty flavorless, it can be easily overpowered by cola. But add a few quick tips to the best vodka and Coke, and it turns into an intriguing cocktail. Of course, you can use the ratio below to serve it straight up, too. There’s no judgment here!

The perfect ratio

My first tip on making the best vodka and Coke is to use the right ratio! But keep this in mind: vodka has a subtle flavor, so it’s almost imperceptible in a vodka and Coke. You’ll taste much more of an alcohol finish in a rum and Coke or whiskey and Coke. Here’s the vodka and Coke ratio:

• 2 ounces vodka to 4 ounces cola OR
• 1 part vodka to 2 parts cola

Step it up with lime or lemon

Lime juice is absolutely essential in a vodka and Coke, because otherwise the vodka fades into the background. I recommend muddling 2 lime wedges in the glass first. This is similar to the technique used in the Cuba Libre, a cocktail with a 100-year-old history. The flavor profile begs for a brightness from citrus to cut the sweetness of the cola! You can also use lemon for a similar effect, if that’s all you have.

Add bitters for complexity

For the very best vodka and Coke, I have one more tip. Add a few shakes of cocktail bitters! Cocktail bitters are liqueurs that are used to add intriguing flavors to cocktails, like a good Old Fashioned or Manhattan. They’re made with lots of herbs and spices, which adds complexity because the flavors are not easily recognizable.

Use any type of bitters you have on hand. The most common type of bitters is Angostura bitters. They’re easy to find online or at a liquor store. They get the name from their manufacturer: the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago. Other popular bitters are orange bitters or Peychaud’s bitters.

A little history lesson

The Vodka and Coke is a variation on the Rum and Coke, which itself is essentially a Cuba Libre. This 3-ingredient cocktail with lime, cola, and rum originated in Cuba in the early 1900s after Coca-Cola was introduced. It went on to become very popular in Cuba, America, and around the world.

There are many variations on this concept with lots of different alcohol types. A Vodka and Coke is considered pretty low-brow in the cocktail world, but it’s very popular and a great way to cover bad alcohol. In this case, it makes the alcohol almost imperceptible. Try the tips I mentioned, though, and it becomes a drink in its own right. No low-brow cocktails here!

Vodka and Coke variations

You can make a “blank and Coke” with almost any spirit. In most cases, you can use the same ratio as the Vodka and Coke. Honestly, I think a rum, whiskey, or even gin stands up to the cola better. The red wine variation below is a favorite at my house! These are great ideas for tasty but cheap drinks. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Rum for a Rum and Coke or a Cuba Libre
• Jack Daniels for Jack and Coke
• Any whiskey or bourbon for Whiskey and Coke
• Gin for Gin and Coke
• Red wine and Coke for a Kalimotxo (use equal parts)
• Tequila for Tequila and Coke
• Crown Royal for Crown and Coke
• Hennessy for Hennessy and Coke (use 1.5 ounces of Hennessy)

More vodka cocktails

If you’re making a cocktail with vodka…there are lots more drinks that might even be more interesting than a Vodka and Coke! Consider the following ideas:

• Go classy and classic with a Vodka Gimlet or Vodka Sour.
• Mix up a gingery Classic Moscow Mule.
• Grab a super refreshing Vodka Tonic, Vodka and Ginger Ale, or Vodka Soda.
• Make everyone’s favorite, the bright pink Cosmopolitan.
• Opt for an effortless Vodka Cranberry (also just 2 ingredients) or a Transfusion.
• Try a bright and bubbly Vodka Spritzer.

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