Bright and refreshing, this Lemon Drop Martini recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and sour! This easy vodka cocktail will make you look like a master bartender and is the special (but EASY) touch your next happy hour needs.
Have you ever had a fabulous cocktail out at a restaurant, tried to recreate it and ended up disappointed? Me too, so I was on a mission to make the best Lemon Drop Martini.
After many trials and errors we have landed on the perfect proportions for the best recipe.
The good news? They are super easy and so delicious that they are worth every second it takes to make them.
It's smooth and has the perfect balance of sweet and sour and the sugared rim is the perfect finishing touch.
Just be warned. Once you sip on this fun cocktail, no other lemon drop martini will compare.
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Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
- Fresh Lemon Juice is best! Save the bottled juice for another time.
- The citrus vodka makes a big difference. Don't use plain vodka if you can help it.
- Simple Syrup is super easy to make at home! But you can easily find it in the grocery store too.
Instructions
This cocktail is so easy to make but be sure to add the sugared rim!
Step 1: Rim glass with lemon wedge.
Step 2: Invert glass in superfine sugar.
Step 3: Add liquors, simple syrup and lemon juice to ice filled shaker.
Step 4: Shake vigorously to combine and strain contents into prepared glass.
Step 5: Garnish and serve immediately.
FAQ
Cocktails are only going to be as good as the individual ingredients. So a high-quality citrus vodka is a must. We used Absolut Citron but Belvedere, Grey Goose and Stoli also make citrus vodka.
Superfine sugar is simply granulated sugar that is a finer grain allowing it to dissolve faster. It sweetens the drink without the grainy residue that regular sugar can leave behind.
YES! And for this cocktail please only use fresh lemon juice. Leave the stuff in the bottle for another time. It takes minimal effort to squeeze the lemon but the taste difference is monumental.
Please don't forget this step. It’s easy peasy and absolutely essential for this recipe. The little touches like this sugared rim are what make fun cocktails even more special.
More Martini Recipes
We haven't met a martini we didn't like. Try one of our favorites!
- This Cranberry Martini is an updated version of a traditional Cosmo Recipe, compare them and see what your favorite is!
- You can never go wrong with a Classic Gin Martini Recipe!
- A Chocolate Martini is always a fabulous after dinner drink.
- Fresh orange juice is the secret to making this Orange Martini delicious!
Check out all of our vodka cocktails!
Recipe
Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Citrus Vodka
- 2 ounces Triple Sec
- 1 ½ ounces simple syrup
- 3 ounces fresh lemon juice
- Superfine sugar for glasses
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Place super fine sugar on a small plate.
- Run a lemon wedge around the edge of the martini glasses and invert glass in the superfine sugar to coat the rim.
- Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, Triple Sec, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake well.
- Strain into glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
- 16 ounces citrus vodka
- 8 ounces triple sec
- 6 ounces simple syrup
- 12 ounces fresh lemon juice
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Bright and refreshing, this Lemon Drop Martini recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and sour! This easy vodka cocktail will make you look like a master bartender and is the special (but EASY) touch your next happy hour needs.
I very much appreciated your breakdown of the ingredients. I did have to search up Triple Sec, but everything else was easy to read about here and locate in the store while shopping! I'll have to pass this on!
Hi Ashley, SO glad you found it helpful! Let us know how you like the lemon drop. It's one of my favorites!
Love the recipe!! My favorite for a Lemon Drop. I’m using Kettle One citrus vodka, Dekuyper Triple Sec and premade simple syrup. But always fresh Lemon juice!
So happy you like it! You can never go wrong with a really good Lemon Drop!
Best Lemon Drop recipe ever! I've made them all summer!
Thank so much for the comment! So happy you love them!! cheers!
Made these recently for a girls night out and they were a hit!! These are the best lemon drops. Thank you so much. I thought I had read detailed directions on batch making these, but now I can't seem to find them. I see the amounts but no other details. Was wondering how long they would keep. They were fabulous.
Hi Deborah! I'm so happy you like these-they are one of my favorites! The batch recipe was moved to the notes of the recipe card to make it easier to find. With the fresh squeezed lemon juice I would keep them in the fridge for 2-3 days. Hope that helps! Thanks for your feedback and for being a Garnish with Lemon reader!
"it takes minimal effort to squeeze a lemon" but maximal effort to go out and buy fresh lemons in the middle of winter when you have lemon juice in the fridge😂😂😂
Fair point! But still worth it in my opinion 🙂 Cheers!