Dixie Citrus Smash (A Refreshing Vodka Cocktail)

Am I becoming a vodka drinker? Maybe, and I think I attribute it to finally finding vodkas that don’t burn when you drink them (like anything I drank in college, because it was cheap). I’ve been exploring some new spirits lately, and one that I’ve become quite fond of is Dixie Vodka.

Dixie Vodka is a six-times distilled craft vodka made in Charleston, S.C. It’s distilled in small batches from non-GMO corn, so it’s gluten-free, clean, and crisp. And thanks to the six-times distilling process, it goes down smooth without the burn we learned to deal with in college. Dixie Vodka just started distributing in my area, so I was really excited to try it myself.

As the weather gets warmer and the sun stays out longer, I tend to reach for lighter, more refreshing cocktails. As much as I love a good bourbon or whiskey drink, vodka screams “light and refreshing.” I’ve had a hankering for lemonade lately, so I harnessed that as my inspiration.

For this cocktail, I used Dixie Citrus Vodka, Dixie Southern (regular, unflavored) vodka, a splash of honey vodka, fresh rosemary, and lemon. My original idea was to char the lemons for an extra smoky flavor. But I don’t have a grill, a grill pan, or a kitchen torch, and my regular little lighter didn’t work. So I channeled my inner MacGuyver and got a little creative. I brushed each slice with a bit of olive oil and “grilled” them in my cast-iron skillet for a few minutes on each side, just enough to get the char flavor and color. It wasn’t exactly what I was going for, but it worked well enough, so I rolled with it.

And guess what? Charring the lemon is the hardest part of making this cocktail. It’s pretty easy to throw together, and thus will look really impressive to your friends and family.

Ready to make a Dixie Citrus Smash vodka cocktail?

All you need is a few ingredients, a couple glasses, and a good friend to share it with. This recipe easily doubles to make more, and would be great for your next outdoor dinner party.

Dixie Citrus Smash

An earthy, light, refreshing cocktail perfect for warm spring afternoons.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2 drinks

Ingredients

  

• 1.5 oz Dixie Citrus vodka
• 0.5 oz honey vodka (or honey syrup)
• 0.5 oz regular (unflavored) vodka
• 1 lemon, sliced and charred
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (more for garnish)

Instructions

 

• Slice the lemon, and brush the slices lightly with olive oil. Toast the slices in a hot cast-iron skillet until browned.
• Add rosemary, Dixie Citrus vodka, honey vodka (or syrup), regular vodka, rosemary, and two lemon slices to a cocktail shaker. Lightly muddle to release rosemary oils.
• Add ice, and shake for 8-10 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosty on the outside.
• Double-strain cocktail into two glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a charred lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary.

Check out Dixie Vodka on Facebook and Instagram for recipe ideas, updates on availability, and more Southern fun.