Vodka, lime and soda: how much it costs to make, per serve
A UK single: 25 ml of Smirnoff Red over ice with a 200 ml bottle of soda water, a squeeze of fresh lime and a wedge. Costed from JJ Foodservice wholesale prices dated 9 October 2026. Ice is not costed.
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Ingredients and cost, one serve
| Ingredient | Pack price | Pack size | Used | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka (Smirnoff) | £15.99 | 700 ml | 25 ml | £0.57 |
| Soda water, 200 ml bottle | £14.99 | 24 each | 1 each | £0.62 |
| Limes | £3.99 | 15 each | 0.25 each | £0.07 |
| Total | £1.26 | |||
Cost per line is pack price × (amount used ÷ pack size), the same sum the tool runs. Change one pack price and every line that uses it moves.
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour 25 ml of vodka through a measure.
- Squeeze in a lime wedge, top with soda and garnish with a second wedge.
Costing notes
With soda water in place of tonic and fresh lime, the drink cost is almost all spirit and mixer. Swapping bottled soda for a post-mix soda gun brings the mixer cost close to nothing, which is why vodka, lime and soda is one of the highest-margin spirit serves in a pub.
Remember the measure law: gin, rum, vodka and whisky have to be served in 25 ml or 35 ml measures (or multiples), and you must show which you use.
Where the prices came from
JJ Foodservice collection prices as shown on its public search pages on 9 October 2026 (delivery runs about £1-2 a case higher). A few lines JJ did not list in that day's searches reuse the dated prices already on our other starter recipes (7 September 2026, JJ Foodservice or Tesco retail, marked on each line). JJ does not label VAT on most lines: raw food is zero-rated in the UK, while soft drinks, alcohol, confectionery and some ingredients carry standard-rate VAT. Your supplier's price is the one that matters: open the recipe and type it in.
- Vodka (Smirnoff): Smirnoff Red Label Vodka 1x70cl, 700 ml, £15.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-09
- Soda water, 200 ml bottle: Schweppes Soda Water Glass Bottles 24x200ml, 24 each, £14.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-09
- Limes: Fresh Limes 1x15 (VEG926), 15 each, £3.99 collection — JJ Foodservice, accessed 2026-10-09
More costed dishes: bar and drinks
- Gin and tonic — £1.23 a serve