Screwdriver Drink

The Screwdriver is a classic cocktail made of orange juice and vodka. This two-ingredient mixed drink is popular for a reason! In this blog post, I’ll teach you to make this classic recipe with correct proportions as well as some fun variations.

I know you might be thinking, “How hard is it to combine oj and vodka?” But listen, much like a good Mimosa, the proportions of this drink matter a lot. If the proportions are off then you can end up serving a funky orange juice OR over serving and the drink doesn’t taste as good and refreshing as it can.

More brunch cocktails: Fuzzy Navel, Irish Coffee, Bloody Mary, Peach Bellini, Aperol Spritz, Tequila Sunrise, Kalimotxo, Cape Cod, Harvey Wallbanger, Greyhound.

Screwdriver Ingredients

Orange Juice – Freshly squeezed or your favorite store-bought variety. Personally I like pulp in my orange juice but this is a personal preference and up to you with regard to this cocktail.
Vodka – Choose a high quality, unflavored vodka. Emma’s MIL loves screwdrivers and she swears by Tito’s
Orange Slices – For garnish use orange slices or an orange wedge. Optional.

How To Make Orange Juice

Use a hand press to juice each orange, cut into halves.
Try a glass citrus squeezer to juice each half of an orange slice by hand.
For a quicker option, try an electric citrus juicer.

How to make a Screwdriver Drink

Begin by gathering your ingredients including orange juice, vodka, ice, orange slices and a collins glass for serving.

Fill your glass with ice and add two ounces of vodka to the ice. Top it off with orange juice and give it a nice stir.

To garnish, I placed some thin cut orange slices into the outer edges of the drink, and the ice holds them in place.

Serve immediately.

Tips, Additions and Substitutions

Try a flavored vodka for added flavor. I recommend trying citrus cherry or vanilla (if you enjoy a creamsicle flavor). Experimentation with flavors is recommended.
If you would like to add a little sweetness, try adding some grenadine syrup or simple syrup. Start with half an ounce and add more until you are happy with the flavor.
Lighten up the flavor of drink by adding half orange juice and half club soda or ginger ale to your drink.
If you’re not an orange juice fan, try this recipe with different juices: cranberry, mango and pineapple are all delicious options.

History

This drink is said to have originated during the World War II era as soldiers, unable to find whiskey, mixed various liquors with orange juice to make them more enjoyable. Another origin story states that auto workers in the United States began adding vodka to their orange juice and using a screwdriver to mix it. We’ll never know for sure how this drink was invented, but these amusing origin stories always make me smile.

What we know for sure is that in the 1950s and ’60s vodka began to gain popularity in the U.S. and brands like Smirnoff used the Screwdriver recipe in ads to further popularize their spirits. Their efforts were met with enormous success as we fast forward more than 50 years to see this cocktail is still one of the most well known of all time.

More brunch recipes to try:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do they call it a Screwdriver drink?

Though the history of this classic drink is muddy, rumor has it that factory workers used a screwdriver to mix vodka into their orange juice when there was no spoon available.

Is a Screwdriver vodka and orange juice?

Yes. A Screwdriver is a shot of vodka mixed into a glass of orange juice with ice. It’s one of the easiest cocktails to learn to make.

What is the difference between a Fuzzy Navel and a Screwdriver?

A Screwdriver is made by mixing a shot of vodka into orange juice, while a Fuzzy Navel mixes peach schnapps.

What is the best vodka for a Screwdriver?

We recommend a quality mid-priced vodka like Grey Goose, Tito’s or Smirnoff. A high end liquor is not recommended for this drink because the orange juice flavors cover a lot of the nuances of the vodka.