Ready for a burst of citrus? This lemon drop shot is a delicious and refreshing shot recipe with just the right balance of sweetness, tartness, and smoothness. Similar to my lemon drop martini, this cocktail is made with a simple combination of lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup!
Whenever I have a lemon drop shot, I wonder why I don’t make them more often! They are so good and easy to make! After years of testing and shaking up hundreds of cocktails, I have created the perfect lemon drop shot.
Serve them at your next party, birthday party, or event, or just for a fun happy hour. Pair them with a delicious lemon treat like my lemon bars or shortbread lemon cookies.
If you’re looking for more easy party shot recipes, try my Gummy Bear shots, Jolly Rancher shots, or birthday cake shots!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
1. It’s super easy to make, with just three simple ingredients.
2. Its light and the refreshing lemon flavor is perfect for summer sipping.
3. It has just the right balance of sweetness and tartness.
4. This recipe makes 4 perfect shots at one time.
Ingredients
Fresh Lemon Juice – Use only fresh squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
Vodka – Pick a good quality vodka when making shots.
Simple Syrup – This is made by simmering equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan. Follow our simple syrup guide for making fun flavors.
Ice – Used in the cocktail shaker to dilute and mix the ingredients.
Sugar – The shot glasses are rimmed in sugar, giving the shot a sweet and delicious flavor. It compliments the lemon and we highly recommend adding some lemon zest to the sugar too!
How to Make a Lemon Drop Shot
Step 1: Rim a shot glass with a lemon wedge and dip it in sugar to coat the rim.
Step 2: In a cocktail shaker, add:
- Vodka
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Simple syrup
- Fill the shaker with ice, then shake vigorously for about 20 seconds.
Step 3: Strain the mixture into the sugar-rimmed shot glass.
Step 4: Garnish with a small lemon wedge or twist, if desired.
Recipe Variations
Add muddled lemon slices or zest to the shaker for added lemon flavor.
Use a flavored vodka or citrus vodka for a more complex lemon drop shot.
Try adding some muddled blueberries or strawberries for a fun and fruity twist.
The recipe uses a flavored simple syrup like rosemary, lavender, or honey.
Keep it easy and skip the simple syrup, just add real sugar to the cocktail shaker and shake it up.
Recipe Notes
Adjust Sweetness: Taste and adjust the sweetness by adding a bit more simple syrup if needed. Some lemons are more tart than others!
Use Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a huge difference in flavor. Avoid bottled lemon juice for the best results.
Chill Your Shot Glasses: For a crisp and refreshing shot, chill your shot glass in the freezer for about 10 minutes before serving.
Shake Vigorously: Shaking well with ice is key to achieving a frothy and well-mixed shot. It also ensures the ingredients are ice-cold.
Make It for a Crowd: Double or triple the ingredients for larger groups. Use a larger cocktail shaker or mix in batches, shaking each portion with ice for the best flavor. Combine everything in a pitcher, then pour into individual sugar-rimmed shot glasses. Prepare the glasses ahead of time to make serving quick and easy.
More Delicious Shot Recipes
If you’re looking for more shot recipes, we have you covered! Check out any of these fun shots below:
Also, check out all of our delicious lemon recipes too!
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Lemon Drop Shot
Ingredients
- 4 ounces lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
- 5 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- 1/4 cup sugar, for rimming the shot glass
- 2 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Rim the shot glasses with sugar and lemon zest. Simply rub the lemon around the edge and dip the glass into the sugar.
- Squeeze the lemon juice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup.
- Shake for 20 seconds.
- Strain into the shot glasses.
- Serve with a lemon slice and fresh mint sprigs.
