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Home » Recipes

Screwdriver cocktail (vodka and orange)

Published: Mar 10, 2019 · Modified: Sep 17, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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When visiting Hong Kong enjoying a Screwdriver in the bar at the Peninsula is an absolute must! In the meantime, find out how to make one at home.

A Hong Kong classic

If you've been following my instagram stories over the last week you'll know that I've been in Hong Kong for work. When I asked everyone for their recommendations of things I had to see and do while I was over there one thing kept coming up time and time again - drink a Screwdriver in the bar at the Peninsula hotel.

The bar at the Peninsula is well worth visiting for the view alone but while you're there you should order the classic vodka and orange cocktail - a Screwdriver. The cocktail was first introduced to Johnny Chung Kam (The Peninsula's longest serving member of staff) by Clark Gable back in 1957.

The actor asked Johnny for a Screwdriver and Jonny quickly returned with the tool. Clark had to explain that a Screwdriver was in fact a type of cocktail and proceeded to teach Jonny how to make it. It's been on the hotel's cocktail menu ever since and has become .

Origin stories

After a little digging, it seems that The Peninsula isn't actually where the Screwdriver's history began. In fact, it has its roots in oil rigs off the Persian Gulf. As the story goes, labourers in the rig used to slip a little vodka into their orange juice in the mornings and, given that they didn't have any bar spoons to hand, stirred the drink with a screwdriver!

I don't doubt that the oil rig workers were probably slipping something a little strong into their juice but the idea that they stirred it with a screwdriver seems a little unlikely to me... Anyone who enjoys vodka in their OJ first thing probably isn't all too fussed about making sure it's well combined. A quick swirl of the glass and it's all good to go right...?!

Either way, it's a fun story to explain the name and who am I to judge!

Just like Jonny makes it!

This recipe is as close as I could get to how they make it at the Peninsula, even down to the brand of vodka. Given that there are so few ingredients in this cocktail it seems only right that you're fussy about the quality of your oranges and the clarity of your vodka.

The view from your sofa might not be quite as impressive as the view from The Peninsula bar but the cocktail is the same! Enjoy.

The recipe

Orange and vodka cocktail (Screwdriver)

Screwdriver (vodka and orange)

Emma
Freshly squeezed orange juice and Absolut vodka make this classic cocktail - if you can't make a trip to The Peninsula in Hong Kong then why not try making a Screwdriver at home.
3.15 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Total Time 2 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 person
Calories 149.25 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • ice cubes
  • 50 ml Absolut vodka
  • 75 ml orange juice freshly squeezed
  • twist of orange zest (see note 1)

Instructions
 

  • Fill your glass with ice and pour over the vodka followed by the orange juice.
  • Using a bar spoon (or screwdriver if you want to be really authentic), stir well.
  • Squeeze the juices from the zest of the orange into the glass and run the zest on to the rim of the glass, finally garnish with the twist of zest.

Notes

Note 1

Using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, peel a piece of orange zest roughly 1cm wide by 4 cm long. Try to avoid bringing any of the bitter white pith with the zest. 

Nutrition

Calories: 149.25kcalCarbohydrates: 7.8gProtein: 0.53gFat: 0.15gSaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 1.25mgPotassium: 150.5mgFiber: 0.15gSugar: 6.3gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 37.5mgCalcium: 8.25mgIron: 0.16mg
Keyword cocktail, orange juice, vodka
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More fruity cocktail recipes

If you like this recipe you might like some of my other fruity cocktail recipes.

Apple Gimlet with cucumber and mint garnish

Green Apple Gimlet

Sour Cherry Gin Sling

As always, Supper in the Suburbs encourages you to drink responsibly!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kavita Favelle says

    August 06, 2020 at 6:52 am

    I love the Clark Gable story, whichever hotel or bar it actually happened at! And OJ and vodka works for me!

    Reply
3.15 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I'm Emma. I'm a UK based food blogger who's been sharing recipes with the world since 2011. I'm passionate about eating a plant based diet using local, seasonal ingredients.

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