Can you believe that it's almost time for patio season? What does that mean to you? To me, that means sitting out on my front porch, catching up with friends and family, watching the sunsets, and enjoying a great drink like this kiwi and lime vodka sour recipe.
While this may be a great summer cocktail, it's the perfect lead into spring and one that has quickly become a personal favorite!

Whenever I order a cocktail at a restaurant or bar, I tend to lean towards a sour drink as opposed to a sweet cocktail. This comes as no surprise as I'm someone who loves any and all sour gummy candies. I also love citrus and incorporating it into delicious recipes whenever possible.
Once I decided that I was going to put my spin on a classic vodka sour, I knew that it was going to need to have the perfect balance of sweet and sour. The sweetness from the kiwi syrup and citrus juice from the lime did the trick!
Want to know the best thing about making your own vodka cocktails at home? Happy hour can be any time you want it to be!
Ingredients
This tasty drink only requires a few simple ingredients. Approachable and easy recipes are what I had in mind when selecting these ingredients. See the list, below.
- Kiwis
- Fresh lime juice
- Kiwi infused syrup (can use simple syrup in lieu of)
- Vodka
- Tonic water
See recipe card for quantities.
You do not need to have the best vodka on hand to make this the perfect drink. Honestly, any vodka will do. Most grocery stores carry everything from top shelf like Grey Goose to cheaper options like Seagram's or Svedka.
Instructions for making the best vodka sour recipe
Below are some process shots along with step-by-step instructions.
Slice kiwis into small cubes. In a tall mixing glass, add in sliced kiwis, juice from one lime and 2 oz of kiwi syrup. Muddle everything together.
Pour contents into a cocktail shaker with ice. Add in 3 oz of vodka.
Shake and pour over glass with ice. Top off each glass with tonic water.
Add a slice of kiwi and slice of lime for garnish. Enjoy!
Hint: Serve this classic cocktail over ice cubes in a hi-ball glass or an old-fashioned glass like I did here.
Substitutions
I've included a few substitution options down below including what to use if you don't have kiwi syrup, prefer a different liquor or citrus. You also have other options for fruits if kiwis aren't your thing.
- Kiwi infused syrup - instead of using kiwi infused syrup like I did, you can use a store-bought or homemade simple syrup.
- Vodka - if you'd rather use a different base liquor, you can swap out the vodka for tequila, white rum or gin and still make an amazing sour cocktail recipe.
- Kiwis - you can always swap out the kiwis for another fruit like strawberries or pineapples. You can follow the instructions to my strawberry mocktail recipe and add 3 oz of vodka to it.
- Lime juice - if you don't have a lime on hand or aren't a fan of them, you can still achieve that tart flavor from fresh lemon juice or fresh sour mix.
Variations
Below, are a few variation options including how to make this simple cocktail spicy and how to make it kid/sober friendly.
- Spicy - if you'd like to add in a little heat, consider muddling a slice of jalapeño or two along with your kiwis.
- Kid friendly - simply omit the alcohol to make this a kid friendly drink.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Mixing glass
- Muddler
- Bar spoon
Storage
Store unused kiwis and limes at room temperature.
Top tip
Use ripe kiwis and limes to get the maximum juice and flavor when making this drink.
FAQ
A cocktail consisting of vodka, a citrus like lemon or lime juice and a sweetener like simple syrup.
Food safety
Wash all produce thoroughly before preparing drinks.
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Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
This is my favorite dish to serve with this recipe:
Kiwi & Lime Vodka Sour
Author:Ingredients
- 2 kiwis
- 1 lime
- 2 oz kiwi syrup can use simple syrup
- 3 oz vodka
- 4 oz tonic water
Instructions
- Slice kiwis into small cubes. In a tall mixing glass, add in sliced kiwis, juice from one lime and 2 oz of kiwi syrup. Muddle everything together.
- Pour contents into a cocktail shaker with ice. Add in 3 oz of vodka. Shake and pour over glass with ice. Top off each glass with tonic water. Add a slice of kiwi and slice of lime for garnish. Enjoy!
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