The screwdriver is one of the great simple cocktails. Vodka and orange juice, poured over ice. That’s it, super refreshing on a hot day!
It’s been a bar staple since the 1940s. The name supposedly comes from American oil workers in the Persian Gulf who stirred their vodka and orange juice with a screwdriver when no spoon was handy. True or not, it’s a great story for a drink this unfussy. There’s no technique here, no shaker, no fancy ingredients. Just good orange juice and a decent vodka. That’s all a screwdriver needs to be.
Why you’ll love this cocktail
- Two ingredients. Seriously, that’s it.
- Ready in under two minutes.
- Bright, citrusy, and refreshing.
- A perfect brunch cocktail or easy crowd drink.
- Scales up into a pitcher effortlessly.
Key ingredients and why
- Vodka is the base, and it should be clean and neutral. You don’t need anything expensive, but you want something smooth. Since orange juice is doing most of the flavor work, a harsh vodka will stand out. A mid-range unflavored vodka is perfect.
- Orange juice is where the whole drink lives. Carton orange juice is completely fine here – use a not-from-concentrate variety with no added sugar. This is a two-ingredient drink built around simplicity, and that’s the whole point. Fresh squeezed is a lovely upgrade if you feel like it.
How to make it
- Fill a rocks glass or highball glass right to the rim with ice.
- Pour in the vodka.
- Top with orange juice and give it one gentle stir
Tips
- Orange juice: Not-from-concentrate carton OJ with no added sugar is what I use. Fresh squeezed is great if you feel like it, but completely unnecessary for this drink.
- Short glass or tall glass? I make mine in a tall highball glass. If you prefer something more spirit-forward, a short rocks glass works too, just reduce the OJ to 4 oz (120ml).
You might also like
The sea breeze cocktail is where you go when you want something in the same easy-drinking, vodka-and-juice family but with a bit more complexity. The Madras cocktail is another good one. It’s cranberry and orange juice together with vodka, for when you want the orange juice sweetness but with more color and depth.
Screwdriver Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1.75 oz vodka
- 4-5 oz orange juice carton or freshly squeezed, not-from-concentrate
- ice to fill the glass
Garnish
- orange slice or wheel
Instructions
- Fill a tall highball glass all the way to the top with ice.
- Pour in the vodka.
- Top with the orange juice and give it one gentle stir.
- Garnish with an orange slice on the rim and serve immediately.
