Houstonist Bartender: Vodka & Soda

Cocktailing strategies are very dependent on the occasion, one's state of mind and one's objective.

"I need a sixer for the game dogs at Mike's bar-b-que."

"We need to pick up a case of wine for when your parents come to dinner."

"I need to get drunk in a hurry."

We've all been there. Combine those goals with today's "Me Generation" desire to focus on looking good, and you've got yourself a puzzle. "How do I party but maintain my svelteness?" Some imbibers chase down low carb beer. Others stick with red wine. Houstonist likes to keep it simple, stupid. Simple is easy to order, can be cheaper on occasion and gets the job done (typically the third option above).

Vodka & soda is one of the most simple drinks around. Vodka. Soda. Ice. Done. The best feature for calorie counters is that soda has none. Tonic, the more prevalent clear fizzy mixer, has ten per ounce. Ten calories may not seem like much but those ten can quickly add up to a couple hundred over the course of a raucous night out.

Vodka & Soda

+ 4 oz. vodka
+ 4 oz. soda
+ 1 lime, quartered and seeded

Fill a highball glass about three quarters full with ice. Add the soda. Add the vodka. Squeeze in lime juice to taste before adding the wedge to the glass and dunking it with the swizzle stick.

Have a drink we should spread to the masses? Send it along [jason at houstonist dot com], and we just may post it after some extensive testing.

Don't be a dumbass. Drink responsibly or take a cab.

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Photo from Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection.