When it comes to cocktails, I can really be a sucker for simplicity. Sometimes I just don’t want to be bothered with mixing and shaking a large amount of ingredients together…which is why my go-to drink is a vodka tonic – with lime! Heck, sometimes I just like to fill my glass with tonic, a squeeze of lime, and a splash of cranberry…no vodka necessary. For as much as I love a vodka tonic, Justin can’t stand them. He doesn’t like the flavor of tonic…finds it too bitter. His loss!

Anyway, I did want to highlight a new addition to our “spirits cabinet,” if you will: Cox & Row vodka. When I visited Total Wine recently to replenish our vodka supply, I could not help but take note of the details and accolades Cox & Row has under its belt. It’s made in America and the vodka is distilled three times. The flavor is very light and smooth, which makes it great for a simple mixed drink like my vodka tonics, but also works wonderfully in something like a martini. It won Double Gold at San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition this year, and my trusted clerks at Total Wine assured me it was a great selection. And, at $19.99 for a 1.75L bottle, the price is hard to beat. If you spot it at your local Total Wine, consider picking up a bottle!

What is your favorite classic cocktail?

Vodka Tonic

Ingredients

1 oz vodka

3 oz tonic (I use Schweppes Diet Tonic)

2 lime wedges

Instructions

1. Fill a short tumbler glass (highball glass) with ice, then add vodka and top with tonic. Typically, I don’t measure the tonic, I just fill to the top of the glass.

2. Squeeze two lime wedges into the cocktail, stir gently to combine: enjoy!