The Oklahoma Club Special is a vodka cocktail made with limeade, Sprite, and club soda, served over plenty of ice with lemon and lime wedges. It is closely linked with Oklahoma golf clubs and patios, and it takes about five minutes to make.
This guide gives you the standard 2:2:2 build, a pitcher version, a frozen version, and tips to keep the drink crisp and bubbly. You will also find substitutions, serving ideas, and answers to common questions.
Oklahoma Club Special Recipe at Galance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | None |
| Total time | 5 minutes |
| Servings | 1 cocktail |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Method | Built in the glass |
| Glass | Highball glass, pint glass, or large tumbler |
What Is an Oklahoma Club Special?
A Club Special is a tall, citrus-forward vodka cooler. It tastes cold, lightly sweet, tart, and bubbly, which is why it suits hot afternoons. The “club” in the name refers to Oklahoma country club and golf course culture, not a club sandwich. Many bartenders outside Oklahoma may not know the name, so you may need to describe it if you order one elsewhere.
Oklahoma Club Special Ingredients
This ratio follows the version shared by Skinny Slim’s in Oklahoma City, which uses 2 ounces each of vodka, limeade, and Sprite, topped with club soda.
- 2 ounces (60 ml) vodka
- 2 ounces (60 ml) limeade, chilled
- 2 ounces (60 ml) Sprite or another lemon and lime soda, chilled
- Club soda, to fill the glass
- Ice cubes
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1 lime wedge
- Optional: coarse salt for the rim
Ingredient Notes
Vodka: A clean, mid-priced vodka works well because the limeade and sodas cover most of the flavour. Tito’s, Smirnoff No. 21, Absolut, New Amsterdam, and Deep Eddy are all good choices. Ketel One is a smoother option if you want to spend more. Some Oklahoma City bars, such as Captain John’s, name Tito’s in their Club Special.
Limeade: If you use frozen concentrate, mix it with water exactly as the package says before measuring. Undiluted concentrate makes the drink thick, too sweet, and unevenly mixed.
Club soda: This is what separates a Club Special from a vodka Sprite. It thins the sweetness and keeps the finish clean.
Limeade or Sweet-and-Sour Mix
Many Oklahoma bars use sweet-and-sour mix instead of limeade. The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City uses a similar build and lists limeade or sweet-and-sour mix. Both work, but the taste is different.
| Ingredient | Taste | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Limeade | Fresher, more lime forward, cleaner | Home versions |
| Sweet-and-sour mix | Sweeter, more bar style | Restaurant style drinks |
Substitutions
- Fresh lime instead of limeade: Mix 1 ounce (30 ml) fresh lime juice, ½ ounce (15 ml) simple syrup, and 1 ounce (30 ml) water. This makes about 2½ ounces, so measure out 2 ounces for one drink. The result tastes brighter and less processed.
- 7UP instead of Sprite: Some Oklahoma drinkers find 7UP slightly less sweet, which gives a cleaner finish.
- Diet soda and sugar-free limeade: These lower the sugar and calories. The drink will taste a little thinner.
How to Make an Oklahoma Club Special?
You build this drink directly in the glass, from the heaviest ingredient to the lightest. Pour the sodas slowly and stir only once or twice, because the bubbles are what make the drink refreshing.
- Fill the glass with ice. Use a tall glass and fill it nearly to the top with solid cubes. Chilling the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes first keeps the drink colder for longer.
- Add the vodka. Pour in 2 ounces. A jigger helps you get the same taste every time.
- Add the limeade. Pour in 2 ounces of chilled limeade.
- Add the Sprite. Pour in 2 ounces slowly, tilting the glass slightly to protect the fizz.
- Top with club soda. Fill the remaining space in the glass.
- Stir gently. One or two turns of a bar spoon is enough. Do not shake.
- Garnish and serve. Squeeze the lemon and lime wedges lightly into the drink, drop them in, and serve right away.
Optional Salted Rim
A salted rim brings out the lime and gives the drink a margarita style edge. Rub a lime wedge around the rim, dip it in coarse or kosher salt, then fill the glass with ice. If you want less salt, coat only half the rim.
Tips for the Best Club Special
- Chill everything. Warm vodka, limeade, or soda melts the ice faster and flattens the bubbles.
- Use solid ice cubes. Crushed ice melts quickly and waters the drink down.
- Adjust the sweetness with club soda. If the drink tastes too sweet, use a little less Sprite and more club soda next time.
- Measure the limeade. Too much limeade makes the drink sticky. Too little makes it taste like a plain vodka soda.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- The drink is too sweet. Too much Sprite or undiluted limeade is the usual cause. Cut the Sprite and add more club soda.
- The drink is flat. Warm sodas or hard stirring are the usual causes. Use cold, freshly opened bottles and stir gently.
- The drink tastes watery. Crushed ice or a warm glass is the likely cause. Switch to solid cubes and chill the glass.
- The drink fizzes over. This happens when you shake it or pour the soda too fast. Build it in the glass and pour slowly.
Variations
Each of these changes only one or two things in the main recipe.
- Lighter Club Special: Use 1½ ounces vodka, 2 ounces limeade, 1 ounce Sprite, and extra club soda. It is less sweet and lower in alcohol.
- Stronger Club Special: Use 3 ounces vodka with the same limeade and Sprite. This is much stronger than it tastes, so drink slowly.
- Tequila Club Especial: Replace the vodka with blanco tequila. Use Sprite or Squirt and add a salt or Tajín rim. Sun Cattle Co. in Oklahoma City lists a Club Especial made with tequila, lemon, lime, Squirt, and a Tajín rim.
- Non-alcoholic version: Leave out the vodka and use extra club soda, limeade, Sprite, and the citrus wedges. A non-alcoholic vodka alternative also works.
Frozen Oklahoma Club Special
Some Oklahoma bars serve a frozen version in summer. Blend 2 ounces vodka, 2 ounces limeade, 2 ounces Sprite, and 1½ to 2 cups of ice until slushy. Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with lemon and lime. Do not add club soda before blending, because it can overflow the blender and the bubbles will be lost anyway.
Oklahoma Club Special Pitcher Recipe
For a group, mix the vodka, limeade, and Sprite ahead of time and add club soda to each glass at serving. Club soda added to the pitcher goes flat.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (240 ml) vodka
- 8 ounces (240 ml) limeade
- 8 ounces (240 ml) Sprite
- Club soda, to top each glass
- Lemon and lime wedges
- Ice
Method
- Stir the vodka, limeade, and Sprite gently in a pitcher.
- Fill each glass with ice.
- Pour the mixture to about two thirds of each glass.
- Top with club soda and garnish with lemon and lime wedges.
This makes about four servings, depending on glass size and how much club soda you add. If you prefer a milder pitcher, use 8 ounces vodka, 4 ounces limeade, and 4 ounces Sprite, then let each guest top up with club soda.
What to Serve With a Club Special
The citrus and bubbles cut through salty, smoky, and fried food. Good matches include:
- Oklahoma onion burgers or cheeseburgers
- Fried chicken or grilled chicken
- BBQ brisket
- Chips with salsa or queso
- Tacos and french fries
For a cookout, a crunchy side helps balance rich food. This Cava sumac cabbage slaw recipe is a tangy option that goes well with grilled meat. If you are serving snacks by the pool, the Cava roasted eggplant dip works with pita or vegetables. For a main dish with a sweet and savoury flavour, try the Yard House Maui pineapple chicken.
Storage and Make-Ahead Notes
A finished Club Special does not store well because the ice melts and the soda goes flat, so make it fresh. You can mix the vodka, limeade, and Sprite in a pitcher and refrigerate it for a few hours before the party, but Sprite loses fizz over time. For the best result, use it the same day. Add club soda only when serving. Store opened limeade according to the label on the bottle or carton.
Nutrition and Alcohol Content
These figures are rough estimates, not laboratory results. Brand, vodka proof, and the amount of club soda change them.
| Per cocktail (2 oz vodka version) | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | About 1.3 to 1.5 standard drinks |
| Calories | Roughly 220 to 300 |
| Sugar | Moderate to high, depending on limeade and soda |
To lower the calories and sugar, use diet lemon and lime soda, sugar-free limeade, and extra club soda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Oklahoma Club Special strong?
It can be stronger than it tastes. A standard drink has 2 ounces of vodka, but the limeade, Sprite, and club soda hide it well. Drink water alongside it and do not drive after drinking.
Is a Club Special the same as a vodka Sprite?
No. A vodka Sprite is sweeter and simpler. The limeade adds tartness and the club soda makes the drink lighter.
Can I make it without club soda?
Yes, but it will taste sweeter and less refreshing. Add a little more Sprite and cut the limeade slightly if it becomes too sweet.
Can I use sweet-and-sour mix instead of limeade?
Yes. It gives a sweeter, more bar style drink.
Can I make it ahead of time?
You can mix the vodka, limeade, and Sprite ahead, but add the club soda only when you serve.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Club Special?
Yes. Replace the vodka with extra club soda or a non-alcoholic vodka alternative and keep the rest of the recipe the same.
Final Thought
The Oklahoma Club Special proves that a good cocktail does not need many ingredients or complicated steps. Vodka, limeade, Sprite, club soda, and fresh citrus are enough to make a crisp, refreshing, and bubbly drink at home.
Make it as written first, then adjust the limeade for more sweetness or add extra club soda for a lighter taste. Serve it in a tall glass packed with ice, and garnish with both a lemon and a lime wedge for a fresh citrus flavor.
This easy cocktail is a nice choice for weekend gatherings, casual dinners, or relaxing with friends. For more recipe ideas and delicious food inspiration to enjoy at your next get-together, visit the Gourmet City Seafood Buffet homepage
