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The Polar Bear is a tart, fizzy vodka drink built on a simple formula: equal parts vodka and lime juice, topped with the same combined amount of 7-Up or Sprite and served over ice with a straw. It comes out cloudy and pale as a snowbank, which may be where the name comes from.
This is a sour drink first and foremost. A full measure of lime juice to match the vodka makes it sharp and bracing, and the lemon-lime soda softens that edge and adds sparkle rather than making it sweet. Think of it as a fizzy, more puckering cousin of the Vodka Gimlet. We have converted the original parts to ounces so the drink fits its cocktail glass.
Glass: Cocktail glass | Strength: Light | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes
Bartenders tip: Use fresh lime juice here, since bottled lime turns this into something harsh. If the tartness is too much, a quarter to half ounce of simple syrup brings it into balance without hiding the lime. Pour the soda last and give it a single gentle stir. The same name also turns up on a creamy mint shot made with crème de menthe, which is a different drink entirely.
Steps
- Pour equal parts of vodka and lime juice into a glass with ice.
- Add the same, combined amount in 7-up or sprite.
- Mix and serve with a straw.
