Screwdriver (cocktail)
A vodka and orange juice highball from World War II.
The screwdriver is a highball cocktail that mixes vodka and orange juice. In the UK, it’s more commonly called a “vodka and orange.” While the basic recipe uses just those two ingredients, countless variations exist, and their names often change depending on where you are in the world.
The drink dates back to World War II, when Americans in China and Turkey combined neutral spirits with orange juice. The name “screwdriver” itself is harder to pin down, but it first appeared in Ankara, Turkey, around 1943 and 1944, and later in Istanbul. By 1948, variations of the recipe were also called screwdrivers in Turkey—for instance, one version used one-third vodka and two-thirds gin, while another added gin, cognac, bitters, and other ingredients to the base. A popular (though unverified) story claims the name came from Americans using a screwdriver as a stirrer when no spoon was available. Another unconfirmed tale says auto workers in the U.S. would stir vodka into their morning orange juice with a screwdriver before starting their shifts.
Vodka’s popularity in America surged from the mid-1950s onward, and mixed drinks like the screwdriver rose with it. Advertising campaigns by brands such as Smirnoff in the 1950s and 1960s helped cement the screwdriver as a vodka classic.
The screwdriver also served as the foundation for the Harvey Wallbanger. A version with two parts sloe gin, one part Southern Comfort, and topped with orange juice is called a “sloe comfortable screw” or “slow comfortable screw.” Adding one part Galliano to that mix creates a “sloe comfortable screw up against the wall.” If you also add one part tequila, it becomes a “sloe comfortable screw up against the wall Mexican style.” A non-alcoholic version, the “virgin screwdriver,” typically uses orange juice and tonic water.
Replacing the orange juice with apple juice yields the “Anita Bryant cocktail.” Bryant was a singer and spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission in the 1960s and 1970s, but in 1977 she became an anti-gay-rights activist. Because she promoted orange juice, the gay community boycotted it from 1977 to 1980. Gay bars across North America stopped serving screwdrivers and invented this apple-juice cocktail instead, with sales and proceeds going to gay rights activists to fund their work against Bryant. The campaign succeeded: Bryant’s activism damaged her career, and the Florid
- Type
- Highball cocktail
- Main ingredients
- Vodka, orange juice
- Origin
- World War II, among Americans in China and Turkey
- First named
- Ankara, Turkey, 1943–1944
- Variations
- Harvey Wallbanger, sloe comfortable screw, virgin screwdriver, Anita Bryant cocktail
Quick Facts
- Base
- Vodka
- Ingredients
- 5 cl (1 part) vodka / 10 cl (2 parts) orange juice
- Served
- On the rocks: poured over ice
- Garnish
- orange slice
- Prep
- Mix in a highball glass with ice. Garnish and serve.
- Drinkware
- Highball glass
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The drink originated during World War II, when Americans in China and Turkey mixed neutral spirits with orange juice. The origin of the name 'screwdriver' is less clear, but the name appeared in Ankara, Turkey, in 1943 and 1944 and later in Istanbul. Variations on the recipe were present in 1948 in Turkey and also called screwdrivers, such as a mixture of one-third vodka and two-thirds gin, and another recipe adding gin, cognac, bitters, and other ingredients to orange juice and vodka. An unattributed but popular story for the name is that the Americans lacked a spoon and instead used a screwdriver as a stirring stick. Another unattributed story is that auto workers in the US used to pour vodka in their breakfast orange juice before starting the shift and used screwdrivers to stir the glass.
Reader's Guide
Starting mid-1950s, vodka rose rapidly in popularity in America, and mixed drinks such as the screwdriver rose with it. Advertising campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s by vodka brands such as Smirnoff cemented the screwdriver as a vodka favorite. The screwdriver served as the foundation of the Harvey Wallbanger. A notable variation is the Anita Bryant cocktail, made with apple juice instead of orange juice. Bryant was an American singer and spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission during the 1960s and 1970s. Starting in 1977, she became an anti-gay-rights activist. Because Bryant promoted orange juice, the gay community retaliated by boycotting it in the 1977–1980 Florida orange juice boycott. Gay bars across North America stopped serving screwdrivers and invented this cocktail to replace it. The sales and proceeds of the cocktail went to gay rights activists and helped fund their work against Bryant. The campaign was ultimately successful, as Bryant's activism damaged her musical and business career. Her contract with the Florida Citrus Commission was left to expire in 1980 after they stated she was 'worn out' as a spokesperson.
Did You Know?
- The drink originated during World War II, when Americans in China and Turkey mixed neutral spirits with orange juice.
- The name 'screwdriver' appeared in Ankara, Turkey, in 1943 and 1944.
- An unattributed story claims the name came from Americans using a screwdriver as a stirring stick.
- The Anita Bryant cocktail was created as a replacement for the screwdriver during the 1977–1980 Florida orange juice boycott.
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