The recipe
for your table
Fill a highball glass to the rim with ice cubes.
Pour the vodka over the ice.
Top up with cold, freshly squeezed orange juice and stir once with a bar spoon.
Garnish with an orange slice on the rim of the glass.
The story
The story behind the name is too good not to be true: American oil workers in the Persian Gulf are said to have secretly stirred their vodka into a can of orange juice in the 1940s — and because they had no spoon, they did it with the screwdriver from their tool belt. Around 1949, the name first appeared in American magazines. Whatever the truth may be, the Screwdriver became the drink that made vodka socially acceptable in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, at a time when almost nobody there knew exactly what vodka was.
The right glass
A Screwdriver belongs in a tall highball glass of 33 to 40 cl. Tall and narrow is functional here: there is room for plenty of ice, and the more ice you use, the longer your drink stays cold without becoming diluted. Choose clear, colorless glass — the deep orange of fresh orange juice is the only garnish this cocktail needs. A thick base feels sturdy and more luxurious than the simple recipe might suggest.
Duralex Picardie Highball Glass 36 cl (6 pieces)
Bormioli Rocco Diamond Highball Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Twelve highball glasses in two sizes — together € 40,90.
The right tools
For a Screwdriver, besides the glass, you use a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for precise measuring, a citrus press, and glass straws. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools — together € 72,75.
Variations & twists
Add a layer of Galliano and it becomes a Harvey Wallbanger. Blood orange juice gives you a deep-red version with more acidity; a splash of grenadine at the bottom turns it visually into almost a Tequila Sunrise. Replace the vodka with gin and you have an Orange Blossom. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Press your oranges just before serving: orange juice loses its freshness within half an hour and becomes flat. Roll the fruit firmly across the counter first, which noticeably releases more juice. Store the vodka in the freezer — ice-cold vodka mixes more smoothly with the juice and melts your ice less quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Screwdriver?
A tall highball glass of 33 to 40 cl. View our highball glasses for horeca-quality sets.
What's the right ratio?
One part vodka to roughly two and a half parts orange juice. Want it lighter? Go for 1 to 4 — with fresh juice, the flavor will still hold up.
Fresh juice or from a carton?
Fresh, if possible. In a cocktail with two ingredients, you taste everything. If it has to come from a carton, choose a not-from-concentrate variety and add a few drops of lemon juice for freshness.
Can you make a Screwdriver alcohol-free?
Yes: replace the vodka with a 0.0 alternative, or make fresh orange juice with sparkling water and a slice of orange. Serve it in the same glass with plenty of ice — the experience here is mainly in the presentation.
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