by Dane Wilson |
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Vodka is such a versatile liquor. It’s virtually tasteless, is low in calories, and can be paired with dozens of mixers to make delicious libations. But when someone breaks out a bottle of unflavored vodka at a party and asks to take shots with you, you need to know what to reach for as a chaser.
There’s a number of ways to jazz up a shot, but here are some tried and true vodka chasers that will make those shots much more enjoyable:
- 100% Fruit Juice
- Soda
- Lemonade
- Ginger Beer
- Iced Tea
- Water
Table of Contents
- 100% Fruit Juice
- Soda
- Lemonade
- Ginger Beer
- Iced Tea
- Water
- Chaser Or No Chaser – Just Enjoy Your Vodka
- FAQ on Best Chasers For Vodka
100% Fruit Juice
You can’t go wrong with 100% fruit juice. Not only is fruit juice used around the world to enhance the flavors of cocktails and alcohol, it is also easy to find. Fruit juices range from tangy and acidic to sweet, so it is up to your preferences to choose which one you like best.
For vodka drinkers, you’re in luck. You can enjoy any juice available. Cranberry juice, cran-apple juice, pineapple juice, orange juice (screwdriver, anyone?), and pomegranate juice all compliment vodka. And if you’re looking to get really fancy for a party, why not slice up some limes and suck on them in between your vodka shots?
Here’s another idea: make sorbet or slushies out of frozen fruit juice and take a bite after each shot.
Soda
There are also plenty of ways to utilize your favorite soda or carbonated energy drink as a vodka chaser. Sprite, 7Up, Mountain Dew, and other citrus sodas play well with the taste of vodka. You can also grab a citrus flavored energy drink as a chaser, though most people will swear by classic Red Bull.
Want to get experimental with your vodka shots? Try root beer. You can even use it to chase flavored vodka (think along the lines of dessert-flavored vodka) to get a truly exciting combination.
Lemonade
Any time you go out to a restaurant or to a pool-side bar, you open the menu and what do you see? A dozen mixed drinks including lemonade! In fact, vodka and lemonade go startlingly well together, which is why most spiked lemonade concoctions contain it. You can also try lemonade mixes, like lemonade and black tea, or fruity lemonades to spice up your chaser and mute the vodka.
Ginger Beer
Need we remind you of a delicious drink known as the Moscow Mule? Yeah, it’s incredible, and it’s rather popular right now. Vodka, ginger beer, and a splash of lime collide to make a mouthwatering beverage. And guess what? You can also use ginger beer to chase down your vodka shot. Make sure you are buying a quality ginger beer. Otherwise, it’s going to be too sweet of a pairing.
Of course, you could also recommend to your friends to throw away the vodka shot idea entirely and make a 20th Century Mule. It uses ginger beer, vodka, dry vermouth, crème de cacao, and a hint of lemon juice. Sounds amazing, right?
Iced Tea
Unsweetened or sweetened, it doesn’t matter. Iced black or green tea is a great compliment to vodka. Spiked tea has recently become a summertime trend. You will find a lot of recipes using lemon iced tea, peach iced tea, hibiscus iced tea, and other flavored teas as a mixer for vodka. Go on, brew up a pitcher of sweet tea and get to those shots.
Oh, and don’t get us started on all the fancy sweet tea and vodka drinks out there, like Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka.
Water
Underrated, water is one of the easiest chasers to get your hands on. Real water connoisseurs know that different brands of water have different tastes, and you might love the way water brings out the taste of vodka. You can also infuse fruit flavors into water if you want to get a little adventurous.
Do keep in mind that this also includes flavored seltzer water and tonic water. Some people may not like the quinine flavor, but both are healthy ways to chase a shot. You still get the vodka taste but refresh your palate (and re-hydrate yourself) with water.
Chaser Or No Chaser – Just Enjoy Your Vodka
Vodka doesn’t always need a chaser. That said, the best vodka chasers are the ones that enhance the flavor of the clear alcohol rather than dampening it entirely. You can enjoy vodka a number of ways, but when you choose to take vodka shots, reach for fruit juice, Sprite, energy drinks, or even water to chase down the burn of alcohol.
Cheers to chasers!
FAQ on Best Chasers For Vodka
Since vodka is considered neutral, you can mix just about anything with it. That means you can also chase vodka with just about anything. A good mixer or chaser for vodka is one that compliments the flavor of the vodka rather than dulling it completely. Some examples include orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, flavored clear sodas (like Sprite), ginger ale, beer, energy drinks (like Red Bull or Monster), and sparkling water.
Try to avoid orange-flavored sodas. There is a reason you don’t see orange soda as a staple at bars and restaurants. Also, unless you like the raw flavor of vodka, avoid club soda.
Sprite and similarly flavored drinks (Sierra Mist, 7up) are good chasers for plain, unflavored vodka. The tang of the soda, along with the lemon-lime flavor, will compliment the vodka rather than kill the taste entirely. You can also mix Sprite and vodka together for an easy cocktail.
Vodka taken straight may require a chaser, especially if you do not like the particular flavor of alcohol or if it’s cheap and tastes like rubbing alcohol. However, most vodka shots are a blend of flavored vodka and some other mixer or spirit. It won’t be necessary in that case.
A chaser is technically a drink that is consumed immediately after taking a shot of liquor. You use a chaser to remove the taste of alcohol or neutralize the burn of it.
