Ingredients
- 1 oz Vodka
- 4 oz Lemonade
- 1 oz Lime Juice
Instructions
- Fill with Ice: Start by filling a glass with ice.
- Add Vodka and Lemonade: Pour in 1 oz of vodka followed by 4 oz of lemonade.
- Top with Lime Juice: Finish by topping off with 1 oz of lime juice.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Vodka Slime is a back-bar quick build, not a heritage cocktail. The name is a wink at the colour: vodka and clear lemonade meet a heavy splash of lime juice and the glass clouds up green and faintly cloudy, the sort of thing a teenager would call slime in the 2000s.
It sits in the same family as a Vodka Lime Soda, a Vodka Sour and a Vodka Press. All four are vodka plus citrus plus a long mixer, all four are designed for speed. The Slime is the version reached for when the only mixers in the fridge are lemonade and a lime.
What it tastes like
Cloudy lemonade with a sharp lime bite. The vodka stays in the background. Sweet up front, sour on the finish, easy to refill.
Around 8 percent ABV in the glass. Soft, easy and dangerous to drink fast because the lemonade hides the vodka. Treat it like a tall cocktail, not a soft drink.
The technique
Build in a tall highball over ice. One ounce vodka, four ounces lemonade, one ounce fresh lime juice. Quick stir with the bar spoon, lime wheel for garnish.
Use cloudy lemonade if available, like Solo or Schweppes Sparkling Lemonade. The cloudiness is what gives the drink its colour. Sprite and 7UP also work and stay cleaner in the glass.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The lime juice
- Use
- Fresh-squeezed lime juice. One ounce is the floor.
- Skip
- Bottled lime cordial unless reduced with the lemonade in compensation.
- Why
- Lime is the load-bearing wall. Without it the drink is a vodka lemonade and the colour collapses. Fresh-squeezed lime is the difference between a real cocktail and a sweet vodka mixer.
The lemonade
- Use
- Solo, Schweppes Sparkling Lemonade, or any cloudy lemonade.
- Skip
- Diet lemonade. The aspartame goes off when it meets the lime juice.
- Why
- The lemonade is the volume, the colour, and most of the sweetness. Cloudy lemonade gives the drink its slime look.
The vodka
- Use
- A clean wheat or potato vodka (Absolut, Tito's, Wyborowa).
- Skip
- Flavoured vodka. The lemonade and lime cover any character anyway.
- Why
- The vodka is volume more than flavour. Pick one that disappears into the mixer rather than fighting it.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The standard build
- Vodka Slime, standard
- One ounce vodka, four ounces lemonade, one ounce fresh lime juice. Build in a tall glass over ice. Lime wheel for garnish.
The double build
- Vodka Slime, double up
- Two ounces vodka, four ounces lemonade, one ounce lime. Same build, twice the spirit. Use this when the lemonade is the supermarket-cheap sweet kind.
The frozen build
- Vodka Slime, frozen
- Drop the build into a blender with a cup of crushed ice and a few mint leaves. Blend for ten seconds. The mint pushes the green further toward mojito territory.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use bottled lime cordial like Rose's, but cut the lemonade by half because cordial brings its own sweetness. The colour stays right, the bite goes soft.
Soda water plus a teaspoon of simple syrup. Drier, sharper, more grown-up. Closer to a Vodka Soda with a lime twist.
White rum or silver tequila both work. Rum gives a slightly tropical lean, tequila brings a vegetal note that pairs well with the lime.
Use the drink as a base for a slushie. Pour the build over crushed ice or blend it with a cup of frozen lime cordial cubes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is a Vodka Slime Cocktail?
A long drink built over ice with one ounce of vodka, four ounces of clear lemonade and one ounce of fresh lime juice. It clouds up faintly green in the glass, hence the name.
How strong is a Vodka Slime?
Around 8 percent ABV in the glass. Soft, easy and dangerous to drink fast because the lemonade hides the vodka. Treat it like a tall cocktail, not a soft drink.
What does it taste like?
Cloudy lemonade with a sharp lime bite. The vodka stays in the background. Sweet up front, sour on the finish, easy to refill.
Why is it called a Slime?
When the lime juice hits the lemonade the glass goes faintly cloudy and slightly green, especially with cloudy lemonade. The colour reads like pool water or kid-show slime.
Can I use Sprite or 7UP?
Yes. Both are clear lemon-lime sodas and both work fine. Schweppes lemonade and Solo are the Australian options, both also work. Solo gives the softest character because it is cloudy lemonade.
Can I use bottled lime juice?
You can, but the drink loses its bite. Fresh-squeezed lime is the difference between a real cocktail and a sweet vodka mixer. If only bottled is available, add an extra splash.
What glass should I serve it in?
A tall highball or a Collins glass over ice. Anything tall enough to hold ice plus four ounces of mixer and still leave room for the lime.
Can I batch it for a party?
Build the vodka and lime juice into a jug, refrigerate. Add the lemonade at service so it stays fizzy. Pour over fresh ice in each glass. Two-step batching, no flat lemonade.
What can I garnish it with?
A lime wheel, a lime wedge or both. A sprig of mint if it is on hand. Skip the cocktail umbrella, this drink does not need a costume.
What other cocktails are similar?
A Vodka Lime Soda, a Vodka Press, a Tom Collins and a Moscow Mule. All four are vodka plus citrus plus a long mixer, all four scratch the same itch.
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