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Home » Eats & Drinks » How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini

How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini

Published on March 16, 2020 Updated on April 6, 2020 by Eden

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The bright, refreshing flavor of the lemon drop martini is a simple, yet easy drink to miss the mark on. We cover everything you need to know to nail this cocktail!

lemon drop martini in a coupe glass with a lemon twist

In need of a light cocktail perfect for a warm summer evening?

If refreshing lemonade is the official drink of summer for kids, then the cocktail version is a great way for adults to join in the fun!

Lemon drop martini on a marble table with a yellow napkin, cocktail shaker and a bowl of lemon sugar.

A lemon drop cocktail is a perfect blend of sweet and sour. It’s great for summer picnics and Mother’s Day brunch.

Here’s everything you need to know about the classic lemon drop martini.

Lemon drop martini with a lemon twist and sugared rim.

What is a Lemon Drop Made Of?

If you’re wondering what is in a lemon drop martini, here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • Vodka
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Simple syrup – Follow our simple syrup guide!
  • Sugar for rim
  • Lemon twist for garnish

Add a shot of limoncello, a delicious lemon liqueur, for a limoncello lemon drop with an extra dose of sweetness and a burst of lemon flavor!

How to Make a Lemon Drop

Once you’ve made the simple syrup, squeezed lemons for fresh juice and prepared the sugared rim, you’re ready to make the cocktail!

To make the simple syrup by simmering 1/2 cup water and 1/2 sugar until sugar has dissolved.

Simple, add in the simple syrup, lemon juice, and vodka into a cocktail shaker with ice.

Gold pineapple shaped cocktail shaker.

Shake for 30 seconds so the ingredients become very chilled and the water can dilute and mix the flavors.

Lemon drop martini with lemon twist and sugared rim in a coupe glass.

Strain into a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon twist!

How Do You Make Lemon Twists?

Lemon twists are the perfect garnish for the best lemon drop martini! Here’s how to make one:

Lemon drop martini with a lemon twist and sugared rim.
  1. Slice a ring from a fresh lemon peel.
  2. Cut through one side of the peel and remove the pulp so you just have a strip of the peel.
  3. Curl the peel into its desired twist and it will naturally hold its shape.

Lemon Sugar Rim

The sugared rim is an important part of a lemon drop martini! We use sugar and lemon zest to make a lemon-infused sugar.

Whole lemon on a table with a zester next to it.

Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a shallow dish. Use your fingers to rub the sugar and zest together to infuse the sugar.

Lemon infused sugar in a shallow bowl.

Using water, wet the rim of a coupe glass or martini glass then dip it straight down into the sugar to coat the glass.

Coupe glass turned upside down in lemon infused sugar to coat the rim.

We love infusing sugar for recipes. Find more ideas for infusing sugar here!

Benefits of Lemon Juice

Not only will lemon juice add a refreshing zing to your cocktail, it also has health benefits!

Lemon juice is packed with vitamin C that can reduce your risk for heart disease and boost your immune system!

Lemon juice also has fiber that aids in digestive health and can help you lose weight. Fiber from the lemon juice expands in your stomach, making you feel full for a longer amount of time.

So drink those lemon drop martinis and feel guilt-free!

Castle & Key vodka bottle

Which Brand of Vodka is Best?

Since the best lemon drop recipe requires vodka, you may need some recommendations!

Personally, we love to use local, small-batch vodkas if you can. The best place to find these are at local liquor stores.

Titos vodka is widely popular and very good. Also, Reyka vodka is a great option and affordable. Another option is Vapid Vodka which is a California vodka with a clean, subtle sweetness.

We also recommend Grey Goose. Its spicy notes work well in a variety of cocktails, making it a perfect addition to any bar!

However, whatever you happen to have on hand will work well in a lemon drop!

Lemon drop martini with a lemon twist.

When Was the Lemon Drop Invented?

The lemon drop martini originated in San Francisco, California in the 1970s. The creator, Norman Jay Hobday, was a bar owner who wanted to create a sweet and tart drink for the ladies, believing that if they came to his bar for this cocktail, the men would follow and his business would be a success!

He was right and the drink spread quickly around the world!

Making the Perfect Lemon Drop Martini

Now that you know everything there is to know about the lemon drop martini, it’s time for you to make a batch!

More Classic Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love!

How to Make a Bee’s Knees

A Classic Negroni 

How to Make a Manhatten 

Old Fashioned Cocktail 

How to Make a French 75 

How to Make a Gin + Tonic

5 Best Gin + Tonic Recipes

Smoky Lemon Moscow Mules

Let us know if you make this cocktail by leaving a review and comment below! We’d love to know your thoughts!

Also, tag us @sugarandcharm so we can see your photos and share!

Lemon Drop Martini

An easy, fresh and delicious recipe for a Lemon Drop martini!
4.8 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Lemons, martini recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 Lemon Drop Martini
Calories: 213kcal
Author: Eden

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
  • 1 ounce simple syrup

Instructions

  • Make a small batch of simple syrup and let it cool to room temperature.
  • Make fresh lemon juice. 1 lemon will be enough for one cocktail.
  • Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds or more.
  • Strain into a martini or coupe glass and serve immediately.

Lemon Sugared Rim

  • To make a lemon sugared rim, pour 1/4 cup sugar in a shallow dish, add 1 tablespoon lemon zest and mix using your fingers to blend the lemon flavor and fragrance into the sugar.
  • Wet the outer edge of the glass, then dip it straight into the sugar to coat the rim!

Notes

Always use fresh lemon juice. 
Any vodka will work for this recipe, the better the quality the better the drink.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Lemon Drop Martini
Amount Per Serving
Calories 213 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 17mg1%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 11mg13%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarandcharm or tag us #sugarandcharm!


4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Suzy says

    March 16, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    5 stars
    So simple and so easy to make! Love the lemon flavor!

    Reply
  2. Kimberly says

    March 16, 2020 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    Great tutorial and beautiful pics, thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  3. Sara Welch says

    March 16, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    5 stars
    Love a sweet cocktail with a kick-especially lemony ones! Excited to enjoy this later this evening!

    Reply
  4. Kristyn says

    March 16, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    5 stars
    Love lemon drinks!! My favorite are the lemon peel swirls!

    Reply

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