Rosemary Vodka Cocktail with Lime

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This easy Rosemary Vodka Cocktail combines fresh rosemary, tart lime, vodka and lemon lime soda for a light, fizzy cocktail that’s incredibly refreshing.

And yes, rosemary in a cocktail is really good.

I originally made this Rosemary Lime Vodka Fizz after we’d spent the previous summer making a decidedly less light version. I love a good vodka fizz, so I wanted to see if I could make something with the same refreshing flavor using fewer ingredients.

This version only needs four main ingredients, plus ice, and makes enough for eight drinks. It’s perfect for summer parties, girls’ night, brunch or anytime you’re making cocktails for more than one or two people.

The rosemary gives it this wonderful herbal flavor without completely taking over the drink, while fresh lime adds plenty of tart citrus flavor.

And the bubbles?

Well, bubbles just make cocktails more fun.

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Why You’ll Love This Rosemary Vodka Cocktail

• Only four main ingredients: Fresh rosemary, lime juice, vodka and lemon lime soda.
• Easy to make for a group: One recipe makes about eight cocktails.
• Fresh rosemary flavor: We’re infusing the water with rosemary rather than simply sticking a sprig in the glass and calling it rosemary flavored.
• Sweet, tart and fizzy: Lime gives it plenty of tartness while lemon lime soda balances everything and adds bubbles.
• Easy to adjust: Add more or less lime to suit your taste.
• Perfect for entertaining: Mix the rosemary, lime and vodka ahead of time, then add the soda closer to serving so it stays fizzy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll find the exact measurements in the printable recipe card below.

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh rosemary is what gives this vodka cocktail its herbal flavor.

We’re going to simmer several sprigs in water first, essentially making rosemary infused water without adding sugar.

Save a few extra rosemary sprigs for garnishing the glasses. You don’t have to garnish them, obviously, but it makes a ridiculously simple cocktail look like you put considerably more effort into it.

I’m okay with that.

Vodka

You don’t need an expensive vodka for this recipe.

Use a vodka you enjoy drinking and save the fancy stuff for cocktails where the vodka is doing all the work.

Fresh Lime Juice

Fresh lime juice makes a big difference in a cocktail this simple.

The original recipe uses quite a bit because we really like the tart lime flavor, but this is absolutely an ingredient you should adjust to taste.

Start with less if you prefer a sweeter cocktail. You can always add more.

Lemon Lime Soda

I originally made this recipe with Sprite Zero because I was trying to lighten up the vodka fizzes we’d been making the previous summer.

You can still use Sprite Zero, but any lemon lime soda you enjoy will work.

Just remember that changing the soda will change the sweetness and overall flavor of the finished cocktail.

Ice

Serve these cold.

Very cold.

Nobody wants a lukewarm vodka fizz.

How to Make a Rosemary Vodka Cocktail

1. Make the Rosemary Infused Water

Add the fresh rosemary sprigs and 1/2 cup water to a small saucepan.

Bring to a gentle simmer and allow the rosemary to infuse for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let it cool completely.

Discard the rosemary sprigs.

2. Combine the Cocktail Ingredients

In a large pitcher, combine the cooled rosemary infused water, vodka and lime juice.

Stir everything together.

3. Add the Fizz

Add the lemon lime soda and stir gently.

You don’t want to aggressively stir all those lovely bubbles right out of your cocktail.

4. Serve

Fill glasses with ice and pour the rosemary vodka cocktail over the top.

Garnish each glass with a fresh rosemary sprig and a lime wedge or wheel if you’d like.

Serve immediately.

Why Rosemary and Lime Work So Well Together

Rosemary has a pretty bold flavor.

It’s earthy, fragrant and slightly piney, which sounds like a strange thing to say when I’m trying to convince you to put it in a cocktail, but stay with me.

Pair it with something bright and acidic like lime and the combination works.

The lime keeps the rosemary from feeling heavy while the rosemary gives a simple vodka and lime drink a flavor you don’t get from citrus alone.

That’s also why I prefer infusing the rosemary into water rather than muddling a bunch of rosemary leaves directly into the drink.

You get the flavor without bits of rosemary floating around in your glass.

How Strong Should the Rosemary Flavor Be?

Rosemary can go from pleasantly herbal to why does my cocktail taste like a Christmas tree? faster than you might expect.

That’s why I simmer the rosemary for about 5 to 10 minutes and then remove it.

If you want a lighter rosemary flavor, stay closer to five minutes.

For a stronger infusion, let it go a little longer.

You can also taste the cooled rosemary water before adding it to your cocktail. If the flavor is stronger than you’d like, dilute it with a little additional water.

How Much Lime Juice Should I Use?

For eight cocktails, we use ¾ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice.

That gives the cocktail plenty of tart lime flavor without overpowering the rosemary, vodka and lemon lime soda.

Fresh limes can vary a little in acidity, so taste the cocktail before serving. If you love things especially tart, add another squeeze of fresh lime.

If you’d rather have a sweeter cocktail, leave the recipe as written and let the lemon lime soda balance the tartness.

Can I Make This Rosemary Vodka Cocktail Ahead of Time?

Part of it.

You can make the rosemary infused water ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to make the cocktails.

You can also combine the cooled rosemary water, vodka and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate that mixture.

Wait to add the lemon lime soda until shortly before serving.

The longer carbonated soda sits in a pitcher, the more fizz you’re going to lose, and a Rosemary Vodka Fizz without the fizz is just… rosemary vodka sitting sadly in a pitcher.

Can I Make Just One Rosemary Vodka Cocktail?

Absolutely.

This recipe was originally created as a pitcher cocktail because it makes eight servings, but there’s no reason you can’t scale it down.

Use the serving adjustment on the recipe card to reduce the amounts.

If you’re making this recipe often, you can also prepare the rosemary infused water ahead of time and keep it refrigerated. Then it’s easy to make one or two cocktails whenever you want them.

Rosemary Vodka Cocktail Variations

One of the nice things about a simple cocktail is that it’s easy to change.

Use Club Soda

For a less sweet version, replace the lemon lime soda with club soda or sparkling water.

Because lemon lime soda contributes sweetness as well as carbonation, the finished cocktail will be noticeably more tart.

Taste it and decide whether you’d like to add a little simple syrup or another sweetener.

Add Lemon

Replace some of the lime juice with fresh lemon juice for a rosemary citrus vodka cocktail.

Add Berries

Strawberries, raspberries or blackberries all pair nicely with lime.

Muddle a few berries in the bottom of each glass before adding ice and the cocktail.

Add Cucumber

A few thin cucumber slices make this even more refreshing and work beautifully with both rosemary and lime.

Try Another Citrus Soda

You don’t have to stick with traditional lemon lime soda.

A grapefruit soda would give the cocktail a completely different citrus flavor while still pairing nicely with rosemary.

How to Garnish a Rosemary Vodka Cocktail

I love using a fresh rosemary sprig because it immediately tells you what’s in the drink.

It also smells wonderful when you lift the glass.

Add a lime wedge or wheel if you want a little extra color.

For parties, you can add both. It’s a very easy garnish that makes the cocktails look considerably fancier than the amount of work involved.

Those are my favorite kinds of garnishes.

What to Serve with Rosemary Vodka Cocktails

This is a bright, citrusy cocktail, so I like it with appetizers and lighter party foods rather than anything overwhelmingly rich.

Try it with:

• Cheese and crackers
• Charcuterie
• Bruschetta or crostini
• Fresh vegetables and dip
• Shrimp appetizers
• Chicken skewers
• Flatbread
• Fresh fruit

It’s especially good for warm weather gatherings when you’re serving a table full of appetizers and letting everyone graze.

Rosemary Vodka Cocktail FAQs

What is a rosemary vodka cocktail?

A rosemary vodka cocktail combines vodka with rosemary and other flavors such as citrus, fruit or sparkling mixers.

In this version, we use rosemary infused water, vodka, fresh lime juice and lemon lime soda to make a fizzy rosemary lime cocktail.

Do rosemary and vodka go together?

They do.

Vodka has a fairly neutral flavor, which makes it a great base for stronger herbs like rosemary.

Citrus helps balance the earthy herbal flavor, which is why we pair rosemary with plenty of fresh lime in this recipe.

Do I need to make rosemary simple syrup?

Not for this recipe.

Traditional rosemary simple syrup contains sugar and water. Our original Rosemary Lime Vodka Fizz used rosemary infused water instead, so that’s what we’re sticking with.

Simply simmer fresh rosemary in water, cool it and discard the rosemary.

Can I use dried rosemary?

I recommend fresh rosemary.

Fresh rosemary is easier to remove after infusing and gives the cocktail the flavor we’re looking for.

Can I use bottled lime juice?

You can in a pinch, but fresh lime juice tastes better in a simple cocktail where lime is one of the primary flavors.

Can I use regular Sprite instead of Sprite Zero?

Yes.

The original recipe uses Sprite Zero, but regular Sprite or another lemon lime soda will work.

The sweetness and nutrition information will change depending on which soda you use.

Can I make this less tart?

Definitely.

Start with less lime juice and taste the mixture before adding more.

You can also use a sweeter lemon lime soda or add a small amount of simple syrup if needed.

Can I make this less sweet?

Use club soda or sparkling water instead of lemon lime soda.

Taste the finished cocktail and adjust the lime if necessary.

An Easy Rosemary Vodka Cocktail for Parties

I originally made this as a lighter version of the vodka fizzes we’d been enjoying all summer, but honestly, I kept making it because rosemary and lime are just really good together.

It’s easy enough for a casual evening but pretty enough to put out at a party, especially with those fresh rosemary sprigs sticking out of the glasses.

And because one batch makes eight servings, you aren’t standing in the kitchen making individual cocktails while everyone else is having fun.

Fresh rosemary, tart lime, vodka and plenty of bubbles.

That’s really all it needs.

Recipe for Rosemary Vodka Cocktail

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