5 Tasty Vodka Cocktails (Simple Recipes)

[@aGrimTurtle]

Lemon drops were my late mother's favorite drink. We'd drink so many of them in a night on big game nights or special occasions. We had a Meyer lemon tree in our yard in my childhood home and I would help her juice the lemons and we'd coat the rims of our glasses in sugar. So many good memories associated with that drink, thanks for so much for sharing this great drink with your audience!

[@HangingBear]

Could you do a herbal top ten cocktails cocktails with thyme, Rosemary, and ingredients like s that??

[@ryanager8029]

There’s also a delicious twist on the Lemon Drop called the Honey Drop. It’s basically the same thing but with honey syrup instead of simple syrup.

[@DwightMS1]

Henry Africa was a beautiful bar. He must have put a fortune into that place. Aside from the ferns, he had perfectly restored (at least visually) vintage Harley Davidson motorcycles hanging from the ceiling. The place was always hoppin'.

[@ChristopherOdegard]

I like how straightforward and well paced the multi-recipe episodes can be. I'll have to give a couple of these a try. (You might want to take a look to see what the heck happened at 9:55 though.)

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Yeah we try and keep them very streamlined when they get this long. And we did discover that little glitch. We'll try and catch it next time.

[@ChristopherOdegard]

@@TheEducatedBarfly Makes good sense. Don't get me wrong though, I like the variety of having occasionally rambling or silly episodes as well as the more direct and straightforward ones. That's literally why I subscribed: great recipes and commentary by someone with experience in performance and presentation, as well as at a professional bar. As to the glitch? Mistakes happen. No big deal.

[@margefoyle6796]

Wow. I haven't thought of Henry Africa in YEARS! That was one of my first pure bar experiences (as opposed to a restaurant bar). I went there a few times in the mid-80's while at college. I think that it wasn't just the fern decor that made it a fern bar - it was the private, alcove-booth nature of it. I don't think anyone sat at the bar (don't think it was an option), but there were all these booths for two and four that felt very private and secluded (they were back to back, but with all these Boston ferns between then) and the music was soft and sexy so you could speak without shouting. It was a very romantic place to go.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Interesting, we'll have to do a deeper dive into what makes a fern bar.

[@margefoyle6796]

@@TheEducatedBarfly I looked at Wikipedia and a couple of other quick Google hits and they stress the upscale (preppie and yuppie) nature of these bars, which is probably somewhat true but I think there's more to it. I do recall that most bars not associated with restaurants at the time were either total dives, old school sports bars, or music bars (usually DJ dance, piano, or cover bands) and didn't really feel safe for women who were not escorted by men. Fern bars were places women could feel safe, and they served drinks like wine spritzers and lemon drops that catered more to women. This was the era of white wine, too, and when women started going out in groups after work or school. Before that, most bars were very beer and a bump types of places, unless you were in an extremely high-end hotel bar or steak house.

[@ernieforni3221]

Going to try the Lemon Drop. I have been trying different "sours" and would like to see a video on your take on different sours built with a variety of spirits.

[@aaronryan002]

Thanks for sharing the history of the cocktails also.

[@nickc259]

Love the cocktails, but there is a weird issue around 9:52 & 9:58 for me. Seems like the close ups are corrupt or something.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

I’ll investigate thanks!

[@justinvongeflugeable]

Noticed that too.

[@kelly_seastar]

I love how the cosmo looks. Such a pretty color 😍

[@Irishringo]

My favourite vodka cocktail is one of dale de groff's but I've tweaked it slightly Grapefruit Julep 2oz Vodka 1oz Pink Grapefruit Juice 0.5oz Lime Juice 0.5oz Grenadine 0.33oz Honey Syrup 6-8 Mint Leaves Shake and strain over crushed ice in in a Collins glass Garnish with a mint sprig

[@lolzguyl]

Ginger syrup is a fascinating modification to a mule! Another fun addition is to add angostura bitters, anywhere from 2-6 regular dashes/to taste works!

[@GladiusDidimus]

Just recently started mixing at home and bartending for a family friend's bar, your videos have been a great motivator and educator. Keep it up!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Glad to hear that. Keep at it!

[@TheBourbonWrench]

Not to name any names, but I enjoy this channel much more than some of the other bigger name channels. You are very knowledgeable and seem to take it a little more serious. Serious without killing the fun. Keep up the good stuff, glad I stumbled across the channel.

[@andresisthename]

Another wonderful video full of goodies to try. Thank you!

[@boozeontherocks]

Great choice of cocktails. Excellent video yet again!!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Thanks.

[@blanding1018]

I tried a Cocktail Culture and wow it really reminds me of Lassi! It was lovely. Thank you for sharing the recipe!!

[@tiffanympm]

A lemon drop in the north east US is a chilled shot of absolute and a sugared 🍋

[@ФёдорГаврилов-с8я]

Nice to see you giving this liquor attention it deserves!

[@j777]

Thanks for the mixes, I just did the lemon drop and it was awesome #fresh

[@Baddiebree94]

Do you think you can try to make a few cocktails with limoncello? I like it but don't know how else to use besides in a spritzer.

[@tomshamrakov4275]

I remember the cosmo made with like 0.5oz of cranberry to give it a kind of neon pink color, what’s your preference?

[@tompoynton]

We used to have a bar here in Bristol, UK called Henry Africa’s Hothouse

[@EAndersson1337]

Loved the vid!! Would like more vodka cocktails from the pro!!

[@oliviervanderwel1776]

I have to say that I’m glad I came across this channel. You really know what you are talking about and the quality is good. I think you deserve more views and exposure! I rarely comment so this is saying something!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Olivier van der Wel thank you so much!

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

Very informative... thanks for all the history...

[@the99centbasement25]

Nice video. Unfortunately honey yogurt isn’t readily available in a number of places (I personally live in Taiwan where yogurt is all super sweet faux milk-type stuff). But the other four here are good to know.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

You can't get just plain Yogurt without any flavor? Maybe some Greek Yogurt? If you can, just add a little honey into and you'll have honey yogurt.

[@the99centbasement25]

The Educated Barfly Costco has Greek yogurt so I’ll grab some when I go next and honeyfy it for the drink. Thanks for the response.

[@smokesativas]

digging the music on this one!

[@margefoyle6796]

Second comment after finishing episode... Great episode!! I lived on lemon drops and cosmos in the 90's and early 00's! Still think they are delicious, though I think it's been at least 5 years since I had a lemon drop and maybe 10 for the cosmo. I love this variation on a Moscow mule. I'll have to give it a try. And the Bitter Bee - that looks amazing! Love these group videos. Course, I love ALL the videos, so there's that... Anyway, keep it up!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Thanks Marge :)

[@TheMeanDM]

If you don't have vanilla syrup, could you substitute like...vanilla extract or perhaps a vanilla flavored vodka?

[@riogrl324]

Passion fruit (in our country it’s called maracuja) is so GOOD! We make juice, desserts with it so good! You could also do a passion fruit caipirinha 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@PoRRasturvaT]

I like Vodka, I like Cointreau, got both at home, and I realised I've been making the lemon drop by myself without knowing (without the glass presentation of course). That association is that evident by itself, and that's why it's good. (I admit I ran out of cranberry juice)

[@tbaoth]

Great vid as always. Thanks! Not a fan of the music though.

[@goldo87]

Great video ! These are my favs

[@pokeycola670]

Great update fella! 👍

[@unorthodoxromance254]

Have you ever thought about doing a flavored vodka? I can't exactly skedaddle to the ABC store for Stoli Citros, but I would gladly infuse a bottle of Stoli with lemon peels. I'd like to see your technique.

[@DarkFaerie316]

Love this vid, definitely drinks to try. I can't find the Demerara sugar cubes anywhere so I've been using loose Demerara sugar, somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Yeah that works!

[@blackraven137]

Would it be possible to use a ginger cordial instead of ginger syrup? Or is there a difference in the taste?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Yes there would be a big difference as ginger cordial usually is lighter in ginger flavor and also makes use of lemon juice which will bring in additional acidity. That’s not to say you can’t use it, but the specs of the cocktails I make on this channel with ginger syrup would need to change to suit the new syrup given the massive change

[@sandduurr]

Like the video! How do you get the passionfruit puree?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

You can usually find it in your local supermarket. If not you can make it yourself. It's basically the juice and pulp (minus the seeds) of the passion fruit mixed together in a blender.

[@will5430]

Made the bitter bee while watching, delicious! I usually agree with Greg from How to Drink where gin can usually make a cocktail more interesting besides a bloody mary, but this one is great with vodka

[@thethirdilgrassa]

Never thought to use yoghurt in a cocktail. I have so much to learn, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 😃

[@raadyusuf6763]

Eyyy I've been waiting for this!!

[@EpicMafioso]

How would you think that the bitter bee would go over with Lemon wedges instead of lime wedges. I feel like with the honey syrup it would be great!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

I think it would be great maybe a little less sharp and a little more sweet

[@benway23]

Thank you for your work.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

thanks for watching.

[@DrivingWithJake]

Great video as always, some good drinks in there even if you're not a Vodka fan.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

:)

[@BrickFilmsCinema]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Dale Degroff's role in the popularity of the cosmo!

[@tamirutefera6001]

Its very nice.how make long iceland

[@abrahamkennedy4420]

Nice, i have meny rycepts of my on cocktail, thry with this 2x 0.5 semptini home made put intu shaker, then 0.05ml of Havana Club 3 yers old than 2x 0.05 sugar syrup. 7 leawes mint and put 2x 0.05 Pynapple juice and 0.05 ml of lime-vodka then put, olso fresh lime juice 2x 0.05 and thanice cubes shake it for 12 secunds and put into a cold glas at the and put slowly cranbery syrup. Please if you wont thry this. I coll this cocktail Hawaien Sunset. Hello from Croatia!

[@Seeland7]

What is the purpose to double strain on Moscow Mule?

[@eliudhernandez2477]

“You get that lemon oil on top, and what you get with that lemon oil is sort of the essential oil of the lemon...” 👌🏼

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Chopz Bailey roundabout but true

[@swedendive]

How many ml is your coupe cocktail glass?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Coupe is like 162.66ml and the nick and nora is 147.87ml

[@cactusmann5542]

Well, today i made my first liqueur. Or bitters. No idea how its gonna turn out. Basically i poked sloe berries in a jar and added lemon peel . Then i poured apple brandy on it. Ill see the results in a couple of months.On a side note, the bitter bee looks awesome...

[@withelisa]

This sounds absolutely delicious and I'm sure it will turn out well! Any ideas for the cocktails you'll make with the result? Have been wanting to try making some cordials myself...

[@cactusmann5542]

@@withelisa No idea. Im not much of a mixologist, but i suppose i wouldnt mind expanding/diversifying the inventory, because the bulk of it is plum or grape brandy, and with it walnut liqueur. I mean, i do have other stuff, but not much..

[@gerrit8350]

how'd it turn out

[@cactusmann5542]

​@@gerrit8350 It turned into rum(or something like flavored rum) because of the brown sugar i added... its not bad...but its a lot less fruity than i wanted it to be....I made gentian and orange bitters...so i could add some of that to it...aaaaand it fixed it!

[@Ali-my4ok]

I love your reactions after tasting them 😂😍

[@statix6979]

Wow

[@seanlukew7499]

Good cocktails, good video, I would prefer not to have the clicky background music as it is very distracting, most of your videos dont have music, If you decide to keep the music can you make it lower in volume and less percussive

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Thanks for the feedback. Music is very polarizing. And we don't do music on the single videos, just these list videos. We'll try and work on the volume and see if we can get a level that everyone is ok with :)

[@brazwewn]

Can you check your lemon drop recipe, I don’t think it matches what you made.

[@johnathonowens6516]

Any chance for a Pimm's Cup in the future? Saw it on Boardwalk Empire. Never heard of Pimms til then.

[@匚尺卄]

half a glass of smirfnoff strawberry kiwi melt beer 2 shots of svedka blue raspberry 1 shot walker blackberry brandy if you have strawberry boba then 2 tbsp and ster once you finsh half then add half the glass at that point Mtn Dew Black label i just call it hanafuda cause i was watching summer war and the drink is red and black i made this on new years 2020

[@lennyljungholm5821]

Is that lime juice fresh pressed?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

yes, we always use fresh squeezed, but since we make multiple cocktails we put the juice in the bottles. If you're just making at home for a few cocktails you can use a hand press.

[@samfunfun646]

I just tried Wheatley for the first time tonight!

[@BagelBunny]

I'm inviting you to the Christmas Party !! Maybe New Year's, too !! You are yummy.

[@mayureshpurohit4439]

Baba do u have any planning to come india , mumbai

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

I have no plans of yet but you never know...

[@loriander2]

Is cosmo not suppose be made with vodka citrus?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

The original was but honestly it’s a gimmick how are you going to taste Lemon flavored vodka in a drink which contains 3/4oz Lemon Juice. It was used in the original because Absolut Citron had just been released

[@Arrgrey9]

Best vodka is Polish vodka Wyborowa :D or made with potatoes Toruńska! Best wishes.

[@aleksandrakulik975]

sfinxchamber I think it’s grain not potatoes... Luksusowa is potato

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Thanks. We'll look into that. Coming soon: a video about Zubrowka, comparing the US version with the original Polish version.

[@wafflehouseco]

I’m always confused whether or not shaking with the mint in the tin busts it up and releases chloroplast.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Nah. I don’t think it does. Either way in this cocktail we’re whip shaking with crushed ice so it’s not a vigorous enough shake to shred the mint. Shredding mint in a tin is fine ya get into trouble if you press it too hard

[@usscole24]

wheatly is my row vodka at Hy-vee , very nice vodka

[@stefanopassiglia]

Show notes for lemon drop state 2oz of vodka but 45ml conversion which is wrong, should be 60ml. I love a variation of the lemon drop - the Kamikaze!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@bushwood1676]

Cheers for the vid

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

thanks for watching.

[@lucinawalker3261]

ahh Vodka, my favorite, I always love having more stuff to make with it Next could you do my other favorite, Midori :3 I know you have done some stuff with Midori in the past but by the gods do I love it

[@iDrumGod]

Every time he mentions Coles I can’t help but envision him working at an Australian supermarket

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

iDrumGod LOL

[@KingKyvernov_33]

Could I use sugar water instead of simple syrup or is it actually considered to be the same thing? (I'm a dumb kid go easy please😂)

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Simple syrup is a 1:1 mixture of water and sugar and super simple to make but plain water will not take its place

[@KingKyvernov_33]

@@TheEducatedBarfly Ayhh Awesome thanks mann

[@areyes672]

Dude by the time yr done presenting the video of cocktails yr DRUNK 😜😁

[@borisyeltsin6293]

anyone else feel like the 22.5ml of simple is a bit too sweet for the lemon drop? just tried one and think I'll cut back to 15ml for the next

[@vittoriabakes]

"crushy-pants and a slappy-poo" HA!

[@corytoews5222]

The comment I came for.

[@happens4656]

Regarding fern bars: reminds me of the episode of Cheers where Sam’s old baseball teammate comes out as gay and Cheers has some gay people come to the bar. Norm complains that his old favorite bar started attracting gay people and they put up a fern so he left. If I’m remembering this episode correctly.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Love Cheers, don't remember that episode though. Did you see we happen to have a Cheers inspired t-shirt?

[@RendallRen]

I remember that episode. The Cheers men were having a moral panic about the bar turning gay, but turns out there had been gay people at the bar all along. A sweet message for its time.

[@niluvyas2587]

Can you add the ingredients here please?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

they're in the description

[@terrycrews1760]

10:36 “you get your proof from the VONKA” …lmao dude was already fading 2/3 into the tasting.

[@mayureshpurohit4439]

Dam good baba

[@stephend50]

Googled bitter bee, all kinds of variations

[@TruckerDigest]

So, who is the creator of Moscow Mule?

[@seanlatimer5871]

Great presentation 😊 Please cut out that monotonous noise underneath as it is annoying and distracting 😳

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

we only do music on the list videos, and people either love it or hate. We take everything to heart and will consider in the future.

[@lxxwj]

shit got kinda artsy at 9:50 and 9:58 lol

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

whoops.

[@yashone7]

I think this guy participated in some big bartender competition don't quite remember the name!

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

who, me?

[@desmondschnedler1049]

Lemon drop is essentially a vodka margarita

[@boarderking133]

Why use vodka when u can use something with flavor and more complexity. Genuinely curious.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Well because that statement assumes you only get complexity from the spirits you use, while when using vodka you are forced to contemplate adding complexity from smother elements

[@Bennie_Tziek]

I like vodka

[@Bennie_Tziek]

@Zephyx I'm dutch

[@Bennie_Tziek]

@Zephyx ?

[@jordanaleman9461]

Love the videos, but when you skip the shake it makes me feel cheated, or as if you're ashamed of your shake technique

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

haha, we do the full shake on the single videos, but didn't want to keep everyone watching the full shake on all these videos.

[@dravendrinks]

Can we get a shirt that says slappy poo or crush pants?

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

yes, check teespring link below the video, or go to teespring.com/stores/the-educated-barfly

[@idgamingfederation202]

is a Moscow mule a Moscow mule if you don't serve it in a copper cup? one would think that a lack of contact with copper would drastically change the flavor. again I'm your friendly internet insufferable know it all, and I am at your service

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

I’d say so. I mean if you really want to be exacting a mule comes from an older drink called a buck which consists of your main spirit, fresh ginger syrup, lime juice topped with Soda water. While the traditional cup is copper for a Mule it is different than a buck in that it utilizes ginger beer over soda and gets rid of the fresh ginger adds in a another quarter ounce of lime and two ounces of your base spirit. A slight variation on a buck but a very important one as the flavor profiles are very very very different so I’d say yes, even without the copper it is still a mule. Nice try Know it all but thanks for keeping me honest.

[@idgamingfederation202]

@@TheEducatedBarfly your Moscow Mule also was lacking the sprig of mint. and love me a good buck, Ginger is an amazing flavor and I honestly can't get enough of it. have you tried Reed's EXTRA Gingerbeer? it is fantastic, I've yet to try their STRONGEST version, but I'm sure it's also wonderful. like I've said I'm an insufferable know it all, I mean well honestly, and personally not a lot draws my ire, I am just grandiloquent and enjoy the sound of myself. I love your content, please keep doing what you are doing. Cin-Cin

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Daniel Saylors Yeah I’ve had reeds and it’s great! Although I think Fever tree is my go to reeds is nice and spicy!

[@idgamingfederation202]

@@TheEducatedBarfly will defiantly have to give Fever Tree a try. thanks for the recommendation

[@idgamingfederation202]

@@TheEducatedBarfly I'm a very reserved drinker, I'm physically disabled and bedridden about 90% of the time, I drink on occasion and only one or two drinks a year. I enjoy a good cocktail now and then but I can't afford to buy pain meds each month so drinks are luxury I can live without, I've been HFCS containing sodas free for 9 years next month. I treat myself to a ginger beer like Reeds once in a blue moon. and cocktails even rarer. think the last alcoholic drink I had was some time last year was a Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tonic at an Olive Garden thanks to gift cards my wife got from the teacher she co-teaches, she teaches radio/TV and Film production. I do wish you all the best in 2020 and beyond, and as I said before, you provide not only entertainment and an escape as your name suggests you educate and as someone who has seen what teachers can do a give you mad props.

[@ThomasMarti]

Now try making all of these with Gin, they will taste so much better. True fact!

[@lukevandermeulen2853]

If 50% of a cocktail is presentation, and 50% is smell, wtf are we even tasting these things for??

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

lol, because the "smell" is something you have to taste. It's weird, but that's how that works.

[@mrw2026]

Hello!! They call me Little Mikey, I’m not an influencer but have a palate for mixology. I can win your “chopped” of cocktails guaranteed.

[@MusicKnowte]

Did he say he works at Kohl's? I knew he wasn't a bartender.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

lol cheeky. Cole's ;)

[@nothanks4204]

Bro there’s a fuckton of sugar in cranberry juice hahahahahaha That shit would be undrinkable if they didn’t add it

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

The cranberry Juice I used had 24g for 4 servings and had only cranberry. I didn’t use ocean spray which is sweetened with Apple Juice and grape juice contributing to a crazy amount of sugar. So that’s 6 grams per cup, that’s on the low end of sugar and it only contains cranberry...

[@theunchartedtrucker1113]

That “Moscow mule” has to be one ginger mess of a cocktail. Fever tree ginger beer is already pretty ginger powerful let alone adding more to it

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

maybe instead of judging the drink before you taste it, make one then post a comment about it :) if it’s too much ginger for you, use soda water, still delicious

[@erinbenton9361]

First

[@jvgarand]

You were kinda drunk weren't you?

[@cecilitaH]

Too complicated

[@FantomMind]

My friend, slappy poo just doesn't sound good lol.

[@ja-ddoesitall9860]

I thoroughly enjoy slappy poo lol.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

Slappypants? That better?

[@colinmcmasters5819]

In my opinion, drinks that use prepared or rare ingredients are not the "easy cocktails everyone should know." Most people will never use passion fruit puree or ginger syrup in a cocktail at home.

[@TheEducatedBarfly]

The point of this video wasn’t to showcase drinks you can make with ingredients you probably have in your cupboard. This video’s point is to showcase easily made drinks with ingredients which are easy to make and are simple to put together. What’s the point of making a video showing drinks every person who already shot a vodka cocktail video already made? The point was to do something new, but easy to make at home. My videos definitely aren’t for people who don’t want to put in some elbow grease