lemon drop shot RECIPE

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

It’s true what they say: good things come in small packages. Lively, sweet and zesty all at once, the Lemon Drop Shot is the ultimate drink to serve on a tray at parties.

A cousin of the Lemon Drop Martini, the Lemon Drop Shot’s taste is reminiscent of the classic lemon-flavored candy it takes its name from. It combines zesty, fresh-squeezed lemon juice with Absolut Citron (lemon-flavored vodka), which is then sweetened and balanced out with the sugar-coated shot glass. The result is a simple, sweet-and-sour explosion, making the Lemon Drop a favorite for those who are looking for a well-balanced blast of flavor.

How to Make a Lemon Drop Shot

What You’ll Need

• Small Plate (for the Sugar)
• Paring Knife (for the Lemon)
• Citrus Elbow (or Citrus Press)
• Boston Shaker
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Small Pouring Jug
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Fine Mesh Strainer
• Shot Glass

Got a question about the tools above? Check out this article where we list the 7 essential bartending tools you need for your home bar.

How to Mix a Lemon Drop Shot

1. Use a Paring Knife to cut one Lemon in half. Set one half aside for Lemon Juice and use the other half to cut Lemon Wedges.
2. Rub a Lemon Wedge around the rim of a Shot Glass to coat it in Lemon Juice.
3. Pour a generous amount of Caster Sugar onto a Small Plate. Gently dip and twist the rim of your Shot Glass into the sugar until it’s fully coated.
4. Pour Simple Syrup into the Boston Shaker.
5. Use a Citrus Elbow to squeeze the Lemon Half into a Small Pouring Jug to produce Fresh Lemon Juice.
6. Measure and pour the Fresh Lemon Juice into the Boston Shaker.
7. Measure and pour Absolut Citron into the Shaker.
8. Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes.
9. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds, then separate the Boston Shaker.
10. Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin of the Boston Shaker. Double strain the mixture by pouring it through a Fine Mesh Strainer into the smaller tin.
11. Pour the mixture into a Chilled Sugar-Rimmed Shot Glass.
12. Garnish by placing a Lemon Wedge directly on top of the Shot Glass.

What is a Lemon Drop Shot?

A Lemon Drop Shot is a simple cocktail shot made of Absolut Citron vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. It’s a mini, concentrated version of the Lemon Drop Martini, and is a great choice for several occasions. It was created to replicate the sweet and zingy flavor of the classic lemon drop candy.

Sweet, sour and simple to make, the Lemon Drop is a perfect mini mixer whether you’re an amateur or a bartending pro. It’s an instant hit of zesty flavour!

What does a Lemon Drop Shot Taste Like?

As the name suggests, the Lemon Drop Shot is very, very… lemony. Made from citrus vodka and lemon juice (garnished with extra lemon), expect a fresh, sour flavor, beautifully balanced with the sweetness of the simple syrup and sugar rim.

As it’s a shot, it provides a more concentrated, intense flavor than its Martini cousin. Perfect for people who want a simple, lively drink with a burst of sweet-sourness.

The History of The Lemon Drop Shot

It’s widely believed that the Lemon Drop Martini was invented in the 1970s by a bartender who worked at an upscale bar in San Francisco. Initially served in a cocktail glass, it later gained popularity as a simpler shot. The Lemon Drop Shot soon became a favorite among partygoers and cocktail enthusiasts alike.

Renowned for its vibrant taste – reminiscent of the candy that inspired it –  the Lemon Drop’s popularity peaked in the 1980s, becoming a staple at bars everywhere. Today, the Lemon Drop Shot remains one of the world’s most beloved shots as it’s quick and easy to mix.

Tips for Making a Perfect Lemon Drop Shot

It might be simple to assemble and quick to make, but there are a few things to get right if you want the best possible Lemon Drop.

Chill your Sugar-rimmed Shot Glass

After you have rubbed a Lemon Wedge around the rim of your Shot Glass and dipped it in Caster Sugar, we recommend placing your Sugar-rimmed Shot Glass in the freezer. In general, a chilled Glass is pretty much always a good idea as it enhances the overall drinking experience.

Double Strain the Mixture

While you could shake the Lemon Drop mixture and pour it using a Hawthorne strainer, we highly recommend double straining it. But why?

“Because we’re making shots, we want the most intense flavor straight away. If we were to just pour it straight in, we would have all these bits of ice shards that would sit in the glass. Even though it’s a shot, you don’t want anything to dilute the drink,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

Learn more about how to double-strain a cocktail and why it’s important.

Quality ingredients

The fewer ingredients you have in a cocktail, the more important the quality of each of those ingredients is. With this in mind, we recommend pressing fresh lemon juice for your Lemon Drop Shots instead of buying the bottled stuff. Similarly, we recommend using Absolut Citron, lemon-flavored vodka.

Variations of a Lemon Drop Shot

With just a few ingredients involved, there’s plenty of room to customize your Lemon Drop recipe.

Lemon Drop Martini

The original that inspired the shot. Our Lemon Drop Martini recipe consists of Absolut Citron (Lemon-Flavored Vodka), Triple Sec, Lemon Juice and Simple Syrup, which is then shaken, strained, and poured into a Sugar-rimmed Martini Glass.

The two are very similar ingredient-wise except the Lemon Drop Martini includes Triple Sec whereas the shot does not. Yet taste-wise, the drinking experience is quite different, with the Martini version being sweeter and softer.

Learn how to make the best Lemon Drop Martini.

Basil Lemon Drop Martini

Now here’s a fantastic Lemon Drop variation you’ve got to try. There’s something special about the combination of basil and lemon. Fresh, light and herby, this variation follows the same recipe as our classic Lemon Drop Martini but adds orange curaçao and fresh basil leaves.

Discover our recipe for a Basil Lemon Drop Martini.

Lemon Drop Jello Shots

A fun alternative to the regular Lemon Drop Shot, this involves creating a jello and Lemon Drop mixture, and setting in hollowed out lemon halves. Once cooled and solidified, you can cut the halves into quarters so your jello shots sit within their own bite-size wedge. A great summer shot tray accessory!

Serving and Garnish Ideas for Lemon Drop Shots

We recommend serving a Lemon Drop Shot in a Sugar-coated Shot Glass and then garnishing with a Lemon Wedge. It’s the classic way, it’s the best way.