Screwdriver

Truman Capote

2 oz. vodka

4 oz. orange juice

1 orange slice, for garnish

Fill a highball glass with ice, add the vodka, and top with the orange juice.

Stir until chilled, garnish with the orange slice, and enjoy.

A master of the true crime and Southern Gothic genres, Capote loved his mixed drinks and loved to socialize with others while downing them. Among his favorites was the “orange thingee,” a simple mix of vodka and orange juice, commonly called a Screwdriver.

One story about its origins suggests that it was invented by workers in the Persian Gulf, who would secretly add vodka to their orange juice. Since they didn’t have spoons to stir with, they used screwdrivers. Yeah, it’s probably not true, but it’s a good story. In any case, this simple drink really wants and needs nothing else, except ice, and even that isn’t essential.