Screwdriver recipe
Vodka and orange juice done properly: cold, fresh, and balanced enough to understand why it became a classic.
Method: Build ·
Glass: Highball glass ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Vodka
- 4 oz Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 dash Orange Bitters (optional)
How to make a Screwdriver
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add vodka and orange bitters if using.
- Pour in fresh orange juice.
- Stir once gently.
- Garnish with an orange wheel.
Garnish
Orange wheel.
Pro tip
Fresh orange juice makes a different drink from shelf-stable juice. If using packaged juice, choose one with no added sugar and add a squeeze of lemon for lift.
History of the Screwdriver
The Screwdriver's name is commonly linked to American oil workers who stirred vodka and orange juice with a screwdriver. Whether or not the story is exact, the drink became an international classic by the 1950s.
Flavour profile
Orange, Citrus, Light, Refreshing
Variations
- Harvey Wallbanger — Add Galliano on top of the classic Screwdriver.
- Screwdriver Fizz — Top with a splash of soda.
- Blood Orange Screwdriver — Use fresh blood orange juice for a darker, tarter variation.
Practise making the Screwdriver in the free Virtual Bar game.