Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Screwdriver

The Screwdriver is vodka and orange juice — the definition of a starter cocktail. The difference between forgettable and genuinely good is simply fresh-squeezed juice and plenty of ice.

Preparation~2 minSuper easyStrengthMediumabout 13% ABVMethodStirred5 guided stepsIngredients2Tall (highball) glass

Highball

In the glassVodka · Orange juice

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Vodka60 ml
Orange juice120 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Ice the glass
Fill a tall glass with ice
02
Measure and pour
Pour 60 ml vodka
- Vodka
03
Measure and pour
Add 120 ml orange juice
- Orange juice
Why it mattersFresh-squeezed juice is 90% of this drink. Squeeze it if you possibly can.
04
Stir around the ice
Stir well to mix
Why it mattersJuice is heavier than vodka and sinks — stir properly or the first sip is pure vodka.
05
Finish the drink
Finish it — drop an orange slice into the glass

Know your drink

About the Screwdriver

A copper mug, Espresso Martini and clear vodka highball against evening city lights.

Stirred with a screwdriver

The story goes that American oil workers in the 1940s Persian Gulf discreetly spiked their canned orange juice with vodka and stirred it with the nearest tool on their belt: a screwdriver. Crude beginnings for what became the world’s default brunch cocktail.

Common questions

Screwdriver FAQ

What makes a screwdriver actually good?

Fresh-squeezed orange juice, full stop. Carton juice makes a flat, candied drink; juice squeezed that morning makes something bright and alive. After that: a full glass of ice and a 1:3 vodka-to-juice ratio.

What is a Harvey Wallbanger?

A screwdriver with a float of Galliano — the golden Italian vanilla-anise liqueur — on top. Ridiculous name, delicious drink, and the easiest upgrade in cocktail history if you already own the bottle.

What ingredients are in a Screwdriver?

A classic Screwdriver calls for 60 ml (2 oz) Vodka, 120 ml (4 oz) Orange juice. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Screwdriver?

A standard Screwdriver is roughly 13% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Screwdriver shaken or stirred?

A Screwdriver is stirred, not shaken. It contains no citrus juice, so stirring keeps it crystal clear and silky instead of cloudy and aerated.

What glass do you serve a Screwdriver in?

Serve a Screwdriver in a highball (tall) glass, over fresh ice cubes.

How many calories are in a Screwdriver?

One Screwdriver has approximately 180 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique