A Vodka Collins with the tangy, summery taste of key limes! This cocktail is the quintessential summer cocktail! It is crisp, refreshing, and delicious!
When I was in college, every Tuesday night my roommate and I would get dressed up to go dance at our favorite bar; Cooters. Tuesday’s was the best night of the week. The techno beats were loud, and the drinks were only .50 cents.
At the time, our drink of choice was a vodka Collins. The drinks were incredibly watered down, and they were served in what was essentially a Dixie cup, but we didn’t care. What else were we going to spend that $.50 cents on? We never actually drank too many, we were there more for than dancing than the drinks. But ordering those vodka Collins cocktails certainly made us feel sophisticated.
I haven’t had a vodka Collins since then. I don’t know what actually inspired me to make this cocktail. Perhaps it was because I was continually seeing bags and bags of key limes in my grocery store. Or maybe it was because the temperature has been 900 degrees. Either of those reasons could have contributed to me needing this particular cocktail.
This is such an easy drink and it so great for entertaining! Typically, a Vodka Collins is made with vodka, sweet and sour mix, and sometimes club soda.
This summertime refreshments swaps out the sweet and sour mix and replaces it with tangy key lime juice and homemade simple syrup!
What Do I Need For This Vodka Collins?
- Your Favorite Vodka – I use Grey Goose or Ketel One
- Key lime juice – Jarred is fine unless you want to squeeze the little limes
- Simple syrup
- Juice from 4 key limes
- Soda water
How To Make This Key Lime Vodka Collins?
This cocktail starts with simple syrup.
Simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar boiled together until the sugar has dissolved and liquid has reduced.
The liquid will be thick and syrupy. Allow the syrup to cool completely.
Place all the ingredients through fresh key lime juice in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake.
Pour the mixture into two tall glasses and top with soda water. Serve.
Recipe Tips
- I used Nellie and Joe’s key lime juice for my cocktail because the flavor is very pronounced and concentrated. You could use all the fresh key limes if you prefer.
- Lime juice can be used in place of key limes.
- You can make extra syrup and store in an airtight container for up to a week. It would make an excellent flavoring soda water, ice tea, lemonade, or other cocktails.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
- Once your syrup is ready, the only thing that will stand between you and a cold vodka collins is a few shakes from the cocktail shaker!
More Vodka Cocktails
Strawberry Grapefruit Cocktail
Strawberry Key Lime Moscow Mule
Key Lime Vodka Collins
A Vodka Collins with the tangy, summery taste of key limes! This cocktail is the quintessential summer cocktail!
Ingredients
- 4 oz vodka
- 3 oz key lime juice
- 2 oz simple syrup
- Juice from 4 key limes
- Soda water
Instructions
- Prepare simple syrup by combining 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Allow mixture to come to a boil of over medium heat. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sugar has dissolved and mixtures become thick. Allow the syrup to cool completely.
- Place all the ingredients through fresh key lime juice in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Pour into tall glasses and top with soda water. Serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 295Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 92mgCarbohydrates 47gFiber 4gSugar 30gProtein 1g
Lisa says
Sounds delicious. It’s a big pain in the neck to juice so many of those tiny limes. I buy the bottled stuff too. Did you know however that you can freeze simple syrup? Just fill your ice cube tray with it and seal the little simple syrup cubes in a ziplock bag. Never be without it.
Lemonsforlulu says
That is genius!! Thanks for that tip!
Krystle says
Perfectly refreshing without being too sweet. Great for these hot summer days.