Vodka Daisy
Shake; Churn ∙ 4 min ∙ 16.7% ABV ∙
The Vodka Daisy is a shaken vodka sour of lemon juice, raspberry syrup and sugar syrup, served over crushed ice — a modern take on the Daisy. Icy and bracing, with a tart edge that softens into fruity sweetness, the crushed ice delivering a slushy, lingering chill on the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Vodka 60 mlLemon juice 30 mlRaspberry syrup 15 mlSugar syrup 15 ml and strain into the glass filled with crushed ice
- Churn drink with ice and serve with a straw
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a raspberry
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass so the crushed ice doesn't start melting the moment it's packed in.
- Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled — it keeps the raspberry syrup from tasting flat or overly sweet.
- Churn the drink briefly after straining so the crushed ice mixes through rather than sitting as a solid plug.
History
The Vodka Daisy is a 20th-century, vodka-based entry in the long-running Daisy family of cocktails, documented in Leo Cotton's 1965 edition of Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide. It substitutes vodka for the brandy, whiskey, or gin used in earlier Daisies, keeping the style's citrus-and-sweetener shake built over crushed ice.
The Daisy itself is an American drink style that emerged in the second half of the 19th century, built from a base spirit, citrus juice, sugar, and a modifier such as orange liqueur or grenadine. Jerry Thomas's Bar-Tender's Guide included an early written Daisy recipe, and the term "Daisy" traces to 19th-century slang for something excellent. Bartenders later applied the same template to whatever spirit was at hand, producing named variants like the Whiskey Daisy, Gin Daisy, Rum Daisy, and eventually the Vodka Daisy once vodka gained popularity in American bars in the mid-20th century.
FAQ
What is a Daisy cocktail?
A Daisy is a classic cocktail family built on a base spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener, traditionally served over crushed ice. The Vodka Daisy follows that formula, shaken with lemon juice and raspberry syrup and strained over crushed ice.
What are the ingredients in a Daisy drink?
This Daisy is made with vodka, fresh lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and sugar syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a glass packed with crushed ice, then garnished with a lemon slice and a raspberry.
How do you make a Daisy cocktail?
Shake vodka, fresh lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and sugar syrup hard with ice, then strain into a pre-chilled glass filled with crushed ice. Churn the drink with the crushed ice, add a straw, and garnish with a lemon slice and a raspberry.
What is a Daisy in bartending?
In bartending, a Daisy refers to a sour-style cocktail template of spirit, citrus, and a sweetened element, usually served long over crushed ice with a straw. It's less a single recipe than a formula, which is why versions like this Vodka Daisy swap in different spirits and syrups while keeping the same shaken, crushed-ice structure.
