Favorite Vodka Cocktails

It's almost a shame to mix Tito's Handmade Vodka with anything else. It's so smooth and satisfying, we can't imagine drinking it any other way than Tito's preferred method -- over ice. But when I mention that to Tito, he balks. "Sometimes, someone will come up and tell me how much they love my vodka. But then they'll sheepishly tell me that they like to mix it. I don't care what they mix it with. I just want people to try it. Hell, I've tried it with Big Red. Mix it with anything you like," he says. "This guy I met mixed it with Sunny Delight. I tried it and it was good!" The potential delights of a Big Red Cocktail or a Sunny D Screwdriver notwithstanding, here are some recipes we believe feature Tito's Handmade Vodka to particularly good effect.

Boggy Creek Bloody Mary

1 Jigger Vodka

1.5 Jiggers Tomato Tonic (12 oz. Bottle $3.75 at Boggy Creek Farm)

1é4 Lime Squeeze for Juice

1 Stem Rosemary

Pour vodka into glass with tomato tonic. Squeeze in lime juice. Crush the end of the rosemary stem and use it to stir drink. The tomato tonic is a delicious combo of tomatoes, onions, vinegar, and some secret ingredients (including a slight hit of serrano) that go perfectly with Tito's Handmade Vodka. Who would have ever thought you could get a Bloody Mary that is 100% from Austin?

Maudie's Tito Rita

2 Jiggers Vodka

2 Jiggers Mr. and Mrs. T Sweet & Sour

1 Jigger Triple Sec

Tito loves this concoction, invented at the original Maudie's Restaurant. Shake all ingredients together with ice and serve in a cold martini glass or over ice in a highball glass.

Good Flow Screwdriver

1 Jigger Vodka

4 Ounces Good Flow Fresh Squeezed OJ

Mix in a highball glass with ice. We also like to add a good hit of club soda and a squeeze of lime and serve it in a tall glass.

Blue Monday

1 Jigger Vodka

1é2 Jigger Triple Sec

1é2 Jigger Blue Curacao

Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into a cold martini glass. Throw in one-half jigger of fresh lime juice and call it a Blue Rita.

Cosmopolitan (serves 2)

2 Jiggers Vodka

1 Jigger Triple Sec

1é2 Jigger Cranberry Juice

1é2 Jigger Lime Juice

A very popular drink, but one that is seldom made right. Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into a cold martini glass.