What glass do you use for a Screwdriver?

A Screwdriver is traditionally served in a Verre Highball.

How strong is a Screwdriver?

A Screwdriver has an estimated ABV of 10,40%.

How many calories are in a Screwdriver?

A Screwdriver contains approximately 193 calories per serving.

What are the ingredients in a Screwdriver?

A Screwdriver is made with just two ingredients: vodka and orange juice, served over ice in a highball glass. Its enduring global popularity stems from the simplicity of assembly and the way vodka's neutral character allows the orange juice to serve as the primary flavour.

Where does the Screwdriver get its name?

The cocktail's name is popularly attributed to American oil rig workers in the Persian Gulf in the mid-twentieth century who stirred the drink with a screwdriver in the absence of a proper bar tool. While the story may be apocryphal, it has become widely accepted as the origin of the name.

What is the best orange juice to use in a Screwdriver?

Freshly squeezed orange juice produces a noticeably superior Screwdriver with brighter flavour and better acidity balance compared to pasteurised carton juice. The quality of the juice matters considerably in a two-ingredient cocktail where there is nowhere for inferior ingredients to hide.

Two ingredients are all the Screwdriver requires: vodka and orange juice, stirred together over ice in a highball glass. An IBA Unforgettable, it owes its long popularity to that very simplicity, with vodka's neutral character stepping aside to let fresh orange juice carry the drink. At roughly 10 percent ABV and built in a single glass, it is among the most approachable cocktails to make and among the most widely consumed in the world. Its easy assembly and familiar flavor have made it a fixture of casual and home bartending alike.

Screwdriver

Verre Verre Highball

Difficulté Easy

Calories ~193 kcal

ABV 10,40%

Ingrédients

Vodka 2 oz
Orange juice 4 oz

Instructions

Mix in a highball glass with ice. Garnish and serve.

IBA

Le Screwdriver est un classique « Unforgettable » de l'IBA préparé avec seulement deux ingrédients : vodka et jus d'orange, servi sur glace dans un verre highball. Sa popularité durable tient à sa simplicité, son accessibilité et la manière dont le caractère neutre de la vodka laisse briller le jus d'orange frais. C'est l'un des cocktails les plus consommés au monde.

History & Origins

The Screwdriver's origin is disputed, but the most cited story holds that American oil workers in the Middle East during the 1940s stirred vodka into orange juice using a screwdriver when no other implement was available. The drink was first mentioned in print in a 1949 issue of Time magazine, and its use of vodka helped propel that spirit's rise in the American market. The IBA recognizes it among its Unforgettables.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh, juicy orange juice with a clean, neutral background from the vodka. Palate: Bright and citrus-forward, with the orange juice providing natural sweetness and acidity; vodka contributes a gentle warmth without adding flavor that competes with the citrus. Finish: Clean, refreshing, and citrusy with a brief alcoholic warmth.

citrus orange fresh sweet clean

Pro Tip

Use freshly squeezed orange juice rather than processed juice for a noticeably fresher, more vibrant drink.

Techniques utilisées

Monter Directement au Verre

Compare Screwdriver

Harvey Wallbanger

Data verified septembre 2017

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