Average
Citrusy & Sour
3 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Lemon Drop Martini is a vodka cocktail that packs bold citrus flavors into an elegant martini glass – sharp, sweet and as elegant as the glass it’s served in.
Inspired by the classic lemon drop candy, it combines zesty lemon juice, the sweet orange notes of triple sec and the clean citrus character of Absolut Citron, balanced out with simple syrup.
A Lemon Drop Martini suits just about any occasion but comes into its own after dinner, when that sharp citrus finish is exactly what the moment calls for.
How To Make a LEMON DROP MARTINI
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Knife
How to Mix
-
Cut one Lemon in half using a Paring Knife.
-
Use a Citrus Elbow to squeeze the juice of half a Lemon into your Jigger and set the other half aside for later.
-
Measure and pour the fresh Lemon Juice into a Boston Shaker.
-
Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker, followed by Triple Sec, and lastly Absolut Citron.
-
Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake vigorously until chilled.
-
Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin of your Boston Shaker.
-
Double strain the mixture by pouring it through a Fine Mesh Strainer directly into a Martini Glass.
-
Peel a Lemon Zest Twist from the other Lemon half using a Peeler.
-
Squeeze the Lemon Twist over your drink before placing it directly into your Glass.
All About the Lemon Drop Martini
A Lemon Drop Martini is a vodka cocktail made with Absolut Citron (lemon-flavored vodka), fresh lemon juice, triple sec and simple syrup, served in a martini glass with a lemon twist.
The sugar rim and triple sec bring the sweetness, the lemon juice brings the bite – it’s a perfectly balanced drink.
Sweet, sharp and distinctly lemony. Like the sugar-coated candy that inspired it, the sweetness comes first, followed by a clean citrus zing. Triple sec adds a soft orange note underneath it all, rounding out the edges without dulling the sharpness.
“The Lemon Drop Martini is a very 90s drink, and a bit of a throwback classic,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. And while it did find its moment in th90s, the drink itself is older than that – said to have been invented at a legendary San Francisco cocktail bar back in the 1970s.
Originally served in a cocktail glass, it was during the 90s that bartenders began serving it in sugar-rimmed shot glasses and the Lemon Drop Shot was born.
The story goes back even further though. The concept of mixing spirits with citrus traces back to 16th century sailors, who combined citrus with whatever they had to hand to combat scurvy. To mellow the flavors, they added sweeteners, giving rise to punches and fruit-forward drinks that eventually evolved into the cocktails we know today.
In a roundabout way, we have those sailors to thank for the Lemon Drop Martini.
The Lemon Drop Martini is sharp, sweet and deceptively simple to make – here’s what makes the difference.
- Always use fresh lemon juice
Store-bought lemon juice is not the same thing. Squeeze your lemons fresh – it’s the single biggest difference between a good Lemon Drop Martini and a great one. - Double strain
Once shaken, double strain using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer before pouring into the martini glass. Single straining catches the large ice chunks but lets tiny shards and pulp through – double straining gets you a perfectly smooth, bar-quality pour. Learn how to double strain a cocktail and why it matters to your drink. - Don’t skimp on the ice
Plenty of ice in the shaker gets the drink to the right temperature without over-diluting it. A Lemon Drop Martini should be ice cold – that chill is part of what makes the citrus sing.
A few twists and tweaks on the classic Lemon Drop Martini worth trying.
- Lemon Drop Shot
The same drink, served as a shooter in an ice-cold shot glass – and believe it or not, an entirely different experience. If you’re a fan of the Lemon Drop Martini, this one is worth trying. Here’s how to make a Lemon Drop Shot. - Basil Lemon Drop Martini
Basil and lemon is one of those combinations that just works. Use the same ingredients as above but add 20ml of orange curaçao and a few fresh basil leaves. - Add bitters
If you enjoy the orange notes that triple sec brings, add a few dashes of orange bitters to lean further into the citrus character. It adds depth without changing the drink’s identity. - Experiment with simple syrup
Simple syrup can be infused with fruit peels, herbs or spices, making it one of the easiest ways to put your own stamp on a Lemon Drop Martini. Here’s how to make simple syrup.
The finishing touches matter. Here’s how to make yours count.
- Glassware
A martini glass is the natural choice. And if you want to blur the line between the Martini and its Shot counterpart, a coupe glass works beautifully too. - Sugar rim
Run a fresh lemon wedge around the rim and dip it into crystal sugar for a finishing touch that adds sweetness to every sip. - Lemon twist
A classic lemon zest twist is all the garnish this drink needs. That said, any citrus peel works – experiment and see what suits your taste. - Fresh herbs
A sprig of basil or lemon thyme adds an aromatic lift that elevates the drink without complicating it.
When life gives you lemons, you get a bottle of Absolut Citron and make a Lemon Drop Martini!
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Lemon Drop Martini FAQ
No, they’re different. A Lemon Drop Martini includes Triple Sec and Simple Syrup whereas the Lemon Drop Shot does not. The drinking experience is also very different.
To create a Lemon Zest Twist for a Martini, use a Peeler to remove a thin strip of Lemon Peel, avoiding the white pith. Twist the peel over the drink to release its aromatic oils, then drop the zest into your Martini Glass for an elegant garnish and burst of citrus flavor.
That depends entirely on your preferences. A Lemon Drop Shot is a much shorter drink and usually has a sugar rim. A Lemon Drop Martini is a slightly longer cocktail served in a Martini glass, and has the addition of orange flavored triple sec which brings a different dimension to the drink.
