Cocktails - Why Is it Called a Screwdriver?
History and Variations of Vodka and Orange Juice
Nov 10, 2009
The Screwdriver, or a vodka and orange juice, has graced the cover of American pop culture since the mid-1900's.
While no one can lay claim to originating the simple combination of vodka and orange juice, the official naming of the drink can be dated to around 1949, when American engineers would add vodka to cans of orange juice and stir it with, what else? Their screwdrivers.
As simple as the vodka and orange juice combination is, it's taste is timeless, and seemingly more endearing than some of its more complex and sophisticated counterparts.
The Screwdriver
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- 3 oz Orange Juice
Combine vodka and orange juice in a cocktail glass over ice. Garnish with an orange slice (optional). Serve.
Variations
The screwdriver has also influenced a bevy of cocktails, making it a base for many contemporary drink favorites and some novelty mixes.
Variations of the Screwdriver include favorites like the Sloe Screw, Sloe Comfortable Screw, and the Sameretto. Some novelty drinks inspired by the screwdriver are the HI-FI, The Fuzzy Cosmonaut, The Harvey Wallbanger and the lesser known, Sloe Screw Against a Wall, which combines the Sloe Screw and Harvey Wallbanger into one.
HI-FI
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- 3 oz Orange Soda
Combine vodka and orange soda in a cocktail glass over ice. Serve.
Fuzzy Cosmonaut
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- 3 oz Tang
Combine vodka and tang in a cocktail glass over ice. Serve.
Sameretto
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Amaretto
- 3 oz Orange Juice
Combine vodka and orange juice in a cocktail glass over ice. Pour amaretto over the top. Serve.
Sloe Screw
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Sloe Gin
- 3 oz Orange Juice
Combine vodka and sloe gin in a cocktail glass over ice. Pour orange juice over the top. Serve.
Sloe Comfortable Screw
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Sloe Gin
- 1 oz Southern Comfort
- 4 oz Orange Juice
In a pint glass, combine vodka, sloe gin and Southern Comfort. Pour orange juice over the top. Serve.
Harvey Wallbanger
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- .5 oz Galliano
- 3 oz Orange Juice
Combine vodka and orange juice in a cocktail glass over ice. Add a splash of Galliano on top. Serve.
Sloe Screw Against the Wall
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Sloe Gin
- .5 oz Galliano
- 4 oz Orange Juice
In a tall glass, combine vodka, sloe gin and orange juice. Add a splash of Galliano on top. Serve.
Whether your choice is to drink the classic vodka and orange juice, or to indulge in one of its many family members, be certain that the screwdriver will remain an important part of drink culture. When celebrating, remember to drink responsibly and always use a designated driver.
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