Vodka Premixes and ready to drinks (RTD) are a convenient, cool and refreshing alcoholic beverage for those long hot summer nights, parties, or for that matter the casual drink. Vodka is a clear spirit, usually distilled from grain. Fermented, distilled to a high proof, filtered, diluted, and bottled. Many varieties of schnapps are like this too, so they're in this list as well. If you're a schnapps purist, please forgive my vodka-centrism. Also included here are flavoured vodkas and some vodka-based liqueurs as well. Akvavit (or aquavit), though named like whisky (the water of life), is pretty much flavoured vodka. The home of vodka is north-eastern Europe, with various countries (usually Poland or Russia) claiming the invention of vodka. Whatever the case, the best vodkas are Polish, with Russian and Finnish vodkas close behind. You might prefer Western-style vodkas with less-flavour.

And how to drink it? Straight, and in company. Keep the bottle or can in the freezer if you want. Friends, a bottle, a table and a few glasses are all you need. Western tradition, unable to cope with such a strong drink, usually insists on mixing spirits. Vodka, with its unobtrusiveness, is an ideal mixer. Vital to Black Russians, vodka-tinis, screwdrivers and many others, also goes well with everything from cola to coffee.

There is an extensive range of well known brands such as Cruiser,CS Cowboy, Pulse Green,Ruski,SKYY,Smirnoff,UDL, Vodka Cruiser with mixers and flavours such as Vodka lemon,lemon lime and bitters,soda,and guarana,wild berry,mix lime and soda,wild berry, mix lime and soda, mix tonic,apple,orange,passion fruit,pineapple,raspberry,electric pink and pine lime.