Lemon Drop Martini
Average
Sour
3 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Lemon Drop Martini is a classic Vodka cocktail that packs big citrus flavors into a neat and elegant Martini Glass.
This cocktail captures the nostalgic flavor of the classic Lemon Drop candy, which inspired its name – sour and oh so sweet. It combines zesty Lemon Juice, the sweet orange flavors of Triple Sec and the smoothness of our Lemon-Flavored Vodka, which is then perfectly balanced by the Simple Syrup.
The Lemon Drop Martini is one of those classic cocktails that work all year round at just about any party or drinking occasion. Personally, we like to serve them after dinner with dessert. Best of all, they’re easy to whip up even without any bartending skills.
How To Make a LEMON DROP MARTINI
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Knife
How to Mix
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Cut one Lemon in half using a Paring Knife.
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Use a Citrus Elbow to squeeze the juice of half a Lemon into your Jigger and set the other half aside for later.
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Measure and pour the fresh Lemon Juice into a Boston Shaker.
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Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker, followed by Triple Sec, and lastly Absolut Citron.
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Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake vigorously until chilled.
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Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin of your Boston Shaker.
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Double strain the mixture by pouring it through a Fine Mesh Strainer directly into a Martini Glass.
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Peel a Lemon Zest Twist from the other Lemon half using a Peeler.
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Squeeze the Lemon Twist over your drink before placing it directly into your Glass.
Watch Rico make the best Lemon Drop Martini!
All About the Lemon Drop Martini
The Lemon Drop Martini is a tangy, tongue-curling treat with a distinct, lemony flavor. The triple sec, simple syrup and traditional sugared rim give this Lemon Drop cocktail its signature sweetness, while citrus flavored vodka serves as the base.
A Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-and-sour cocktail with a distinct, sugary sweetness and zing of lemon. There’s a reason the Lemon Drop is named after the sugar-coated hard candy. It’s a refreshing taste, often served shaken with ice. It’s a complimentary blend of flavors that mingle together with Vodka to deliver an unmistakable burst of citrus flavor.
“The Lemon Drop Martini is a very 90s drink, and a bit of a throwback classic,” says Rico. While that may be true, the Lemon Drop Martini is said to have been invented at a legendary San Francisco cocktail bar in the 1970s.
Originally, the drink was served in a Cocktail Glass, but during the 90s, bartenders started serving them Sugar-rimmed Shot Glasses as well. And so, the Lemon Drop Shot was born.
The concept of mixing spirits with citrus actually traces back to 16th century sailors who mixed citrus with whatever they had at hand in order to combat scurvy. To mellow out the flavors, they also added sweeteners, giving birth to punches like the fruit martinis we know and love.
So, in one way you could say we have the sailors to thank for the beloved Lemon Drop Martini recipe we have today.
- Real Lemon Juice
Store-bought lemon juice or “lemonade” isn’t anything like the real fresh-squeezed deal. We highly recommend squeezing your Lemons to produce real Lemon Juice. It’ll make all the difference to the quality of your drink. - Double Strain your Lemon Drop Martini
In the video, you’ll notice Rico double strains the mixture using a Hawthorne Strainer and Fine Mesh Strainer before pouring it into the Martini Glass. Single straining catches large ice chunks and fruit bits, but tiny ice shards and fruit pulp can still slip through. To achieve a perfectly smooth drink, double strain to get your cocktail to bar-level standards. - Don’t Skimp on the Ice
Part of a Lemon Drop Martini’s appeal – along with its bold, zesty flavor – is its ice chilled drinking temperature. To get your cocktail to the perfect level of frostiness, and to avoid over diluting the ingredients, use plenty of ice in the shaker.Learn how to double strain a cocktail.
Check out these twists and tweaks on the classic Lemon Drop Martini recipe.
- Lemon Drop Shot
Well, you already know what this one tastes like, since you just kinda made it! Essentially, this is the same drink but served as a shooter in an ice-cold Sugar-rimmed Shot Glass.
Believe it or not, it’s an entirely different experience. So, if you’re a fan of the Lemon Drop Martini, you gotta try this one. Here’s how to make a Lemon Drop Shot. - Basil Lemon Drop Martini
There’s something about the combination of basil and lemon that works so beautifully. This Lemon Drop Martini variation uses the same ingredients as above but adds fresh basil leaves. And the difference is incredible. Discover our recipe for a Basil Lemon Drop Martini. - Go Bold with Bitters
If you like the orange notes brought by the Triple Sec, try doubling up with a few dashes of orange bitters to make your Lemon Drop Martini a full citrus fiesta. - Experiment with Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup can easily be infused with fruit peels, herbs, and spices. If you’re looking to experiment a bit and create your own take on the Lemon Drop Martini, this is a great place to start. Check out our post where we show you how to make Simple Syrup.
- Being that the Lemon Drop Martini is a Martini, we recommend serving the Lemon Drop Martini in a Martini glass, or at the very least a coupe glass. Try a sugar rim by rubbing fresh lemon around the top of the glass and then dipping it into a plate of crystal sugar.
- For garnishing a Lemon Drop Martini, you can’t beat a classic Lemon Zest Twist to finish the drink off. Alternatively, other types of citrus peel work well too – play around and see which you like best.
- A sprig of herbs like basil or lemon thyme can add aroma and fragrance – not to mention elegance.
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.
