Bright and refreshing, this Lemon Drop Martini recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and sour. This classic vodka cocktail is a welcome addition to any event and can be made with just 4 ingredients in less than 5 minutes. Add a sugared rim and a lemon twist and you are party ready!
Have you ever had a fabulous cocktail out at a restaurant, tried to recreate it, and ended up disappointed with the results? Me too, so I was on a mission to make the best Lemon Drop Martini.
After many trials and errors, we landed on the perfect proportions for the best recipe. You will love the results. These drinks are super easy to make and so delicious.
Just be warned. Once you sip on this tasty cocktail, no other lemon drop martini will compare.
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Why you will love this lemon drop martini
▶︎ A secret ingredient sets this martini recipe apart from the rest: citrus vodka! This simple addition makes a super smooth and lemony martini.
▶︎ The ingredient list is short. You only need 4 ingredients for this easy drink.
▶︎It's smooth with a perfect balance of sweet and sour, and the sugared rim is a festive touch for bar quality drinks at home.
▶︎ It's fancy enough for a party but approachable enough to make just one for yourself.
▶︎ It's a fan favorite. This recipe has been saved, pinned, and viewed more than 500,000 times!
Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients for this classic cocktail.
Ingredient Notes:
Vodka: Use citrus vodka for the best tasting Lemon Drop Martini.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is the only way to go. It takes seconds to squeeze with a citrus juicer.
Orange Liqueur: You can use Triple Sec or Cointreau for this drink. Both are orange liqueurs and can be used interchangeably in this recipe.
Simple syrup can be found at any grocery store but is super easy to make your own simple syrup at home.
Instructions
This cocktail is so easy to make but the sugared rim makes it extra special!
Prep your glass. Rim the edge of a martini glass and invert glass onto a plate filled with superfine sugar.
Grab your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Measure and pour vodka, lemon juice, and orange liqueur.
Last, add the simple syrup. Cover the shaker and shake contents for at least 30 seconds. COLD martinis are the best martinis. Finally, strain contents into the prepared glass and serve!
FAQs
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 for this drink but Belvedere, Grey Goose and Stoli also make citrus vodka.
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. 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. It’s easy to do and absolutely essential for this recipe. The little touches like this sugared rim are what make fun cocktails even more special.
Expert tips for the best martinis
✘ Use high quality ingredients. When you are making cocktails with a short ingredient list, you can definitely taste the difference. Fresh lemon juice is a must for this recipe.
✘ Use enough ice. The more ice you have in the shaker, the easier it is to get it chilled.
✘ Shake your martini well. Nobody likes a lukewarm martini. The longer you shake it, the colder (and better) it is. We recommend at least 30 seconds.
✘ Use a pretty glass. Everything tastes better when it looks good. It's easy to elevate your drink game using an elegant coupe glass.
✘ Garnish before serving. A simple lemon twist adds a perfect finishing touch and they are easy to make with a channel knife. It's the little things that level up your home bartending skills.
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! And fresh orange juice is the secret to making this Orange Martini delicious!
Love vodka? Don't miss the rest of our vodka cocktails!
Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers!
Recipe
Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- Superfine sugar for glasses
- lemon wedges
- 2 ounces Citrus vodka
- 1½ ounces Fresh lemon Juice
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
Instructions
- Place superfine sugar on a small plate.Superfine sugar for glasses
- Run a lemon wedge around the edge of the martini glasses and invert in the superfine sugar to coat the rims. Set glasses aside.lemon wedges
- Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup. Shake well for at least 30 seconds.2 ounces Citrus vodka, 1 ounce orange liqueur, ¾ ounce simple syrup, 1½ ounces Fresh lemon Juice
- Strain into prepared glasses and serve immediately. Garnish with lemon twists, if desired.
Notes
- Vodka: Citrus vodka is the secret ingredient that makes this Lemon Drop taste so smooth.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is best and takes seconds to squeeze with a citrus juicer.
- Orange Liqueur: You can use Triple Sec or Cointreau for this drink. Both are orange liqueurs and can be used interchangeably in this recipe.
- Simple syrup can be found at any grocery store but is super easy to make your own simple syrup at home.
- 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.
Need to make a pitcher for a Christmas Brunch any suggestions on ratio
Hi! You can just multiply the ingredient amounts by the number of cocktails you want to make and refrigerate until you are ready to serve it! Hope that helps! Happy Holidays!
Okay so I did make one change. I used St Germain instead of triple sec. I grinded the sugar in a coffee. Grinder. This was delicious.
This is the best Lemon Drop recipe I’ve found!! Thanks!
OMG. This is sooooo good! Testing one now. Perfect proportions on all of the ingredients! Making a batch of 32 for this Sunday. Everyone will love it!
Hi Brenda- Thanks for your feedback! It is one of our favorite cocktails and is perfect for a party! Cheers!
"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!