For more classic drinks check out Negroni Fizz and Long Island Iced Tea. This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. When my husband suggested making a lemon drop martini it was met with an immediate “No way!” from me.
All I could think about was a cloyingly sweet drink that people who don’t actually like cocktails order. An alcoholic Shirley Temple. Too girly for my taste. How wrong I was.
Lemon Drop Martini
The classic version of the lemon drop martini is actually perfectly balanced and quite sophisticated. A drink that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to serve at a dinner party. Unfortunately, that version of the drink can be hard to find. Often it is made with too much sweetness or artificial flavours, which does the drink no favours. The drink is a creation of a bartender names Normal Jay Hobday at some point in the 1970’s. Served in a martini glass with a sugared rim, it quickly spread from San Francisco to bars all over.
The traditional version of lemon drop martini uses vodka citron, but I find gin a far more interesting spirit so made the switch. I’ve also reduced the sweetness to bring out the crisp lemon and added a hint of vanilla to make it my own.
How it tastes
So how would I describe this Lemon Drop Martini? In one word. Fabulous. In many words. It tastes like what I imagined grown up sweets would taste like when I was wee and enjoying my lemon drop candy. Which, of course, is how this cocktail gets its name. It’s hard to miss that the drink and hard candy have a very similar sweet and sour flavour.
This cocktail is light, refreshing, with strong hint of vanilla and a gentle sourness of the lemon drop. Pop in a golden sugar stir stick for more intense sweetness if you wish. I did.
Recipe tips and notes
The recipe calls for Triple Sec but there’s no need to be fussy here. Other orange liqueurs such as Gran Marnier will be great. As with almost every cocktail, lemon drop martini is at it’s best when as cold as possible. Shake it with lots of ice until the shaker is too cold to hold on to. To keep the drink from warming up too fast, pop your cocktail glasses in the freezer beforehand. As an added bonus, this will frost the glass and make the drink look even more stunning! The sugared rim is there to add additional sweetness to balance out the sour lemon. I also like the cocktail without this added sugar, so omit if you prefer. Or only sugar half the rim to keep both options on the table!
Variations
Unsurprisingly for such a popular cocktail there are a lot of different varieties in existence. I’ve added to the list with my own variation here! The list of variations includes drinks made with different berries such as raspberries or blueberries. These can be made using puréed or muddled berries, although for my money lemon is far better. For a less radical change, use vodka or vodka citron, as in the original recipe. To add a hint of additional sweetness, the quantity of triple sec can be increased, although I would do this cautiously to avoid a sickly sweet drink. The hint of vanilla is another addition that’s all my own. I love the added dimension it brings to the drink, but it’s an optional extra and can be skipped.
title: “Lemon Drop Martini” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-14” author: “Casey Lamas”
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
Lemon — freshly squeezed lemon juice is a must. The bottled juices do not have the same bright flavor that fresh lemon provides. Vodka — I recommend a quality smooth vodka, so you end up with a silky cocktail. While you do not have to use the most expensive vodka, the recipe only uses a handful of ingredients, so you’ll taste the difference if your vodka is not of good quality.
HOW TO MAKE A LEMON DROP MARTINI
Slice off a bit of the lemon peel to use as a garnish.
Wipe the rim of a glass with the lemon, turn it upside down, and dab it on a plate of sugar.
Juice the lemon and strain it into a small bowl to remove any seeds or loose membrane.
To a cocktail shaker, add vodka, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and ice.
Cover the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass and garnish with the lemon peel.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
If you have extra lemons, you can zest them and combine the zest with the sugar to make lemon sugar for the rim of the glass. To make the drink even colder, you can chill your martini glasses in the freezer beforehand. Feel free to add more or less vodka to make the cocktail as strong as you prefer. You will need to shake and not stir this cocktail. The lemon juice and vodka have different densities, so they need to be shaken to combine thoroughly with each other. The ingredients may separate if you only stir the martini. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make this lemon cocktail ahead of time?
You can definitely make this lemon drop recipe ahead of time for a party. Simply scale up all of the ingredients, minus the ice, then store the drink in a jar or pitcher with a lid in the fridge. When ready to serve, shake the cocktail with ice and serve with sugar-rimmed glasses.
How do I get the most juice out of the lemon?
If your lemon was in the fridge, bring it to room temperature before juicing. Then roll the fruit under the palm of your hands on the countertop. Doing so helps loosen the juices by breaking down some of the lemon’s membranes. You could also microwave the lemon for 5 to 10 seconds to quickly warm it up.
How to make simple syrup?
You can purchase simple syrup at the store. However, it’s super easy to make at home as well. Here’s how to make it:
Add equal parts water and sugar to a pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and chill in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
If you’ve tried this Lemon Drop Martini recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
