Name: Balalaika
Ingredients: 1 1/2 shots Stolichnaya vodka; 1 1/2 shots De Kuyper Triple Sec; 1 1/2 shots Freshly squeezed lemon juice; garnish: Orange wedge; Glass: Martini

Why it works: Lemon and orange match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 10,634 recipes. Both carry 3-hexenal, which smells apple, fruity. The science ↓

Balalaika

Ingredients

1 1/2 shots Stolichnaya vodka
1 1/2 shots De Kuyper Triple Sec
1 1/2 shots Freshly squeezed lemon juice
garnish: Orange wedge
Glass: Martini

Directions

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

74Calories

2 gProtein

0 gFat

19 gCarbs

Counts 2 of 3 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 2 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Orange	1 medium (131g)	62
Lemon	juice of 1 lemon (48ml)	12
Vodka	not in our table	0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

Lemon + orangetop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together10,634 recipes

Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
Vodka + lemontop 18% of all pairs

Smell alikelow

Cooked together264 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Vodka + orangetop 25% of all pairs

Smell alikelow

Cooked together202 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Stolichnaya vodka: Provides the base spirit that gives the drink its main body and strength.
De kuyper triple sec: Adds orange sweetness and aroma that rounds out the sharpness of the lemon.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice: Supplies acidity that brightens the drink and balances the sweetness of the triple sec.