Lemon Drop Martini

The lemon drop martini is equal parts tart and sweet, served incredibly cold, and may just evoke the all-too-familiar nostalgia of the dish of hard candies left out on your grandmother’s counter. A tried-and-true classic—and longtime girls'-night-out favorite—it’s the kind of cocktail that feels impressive without being complicated. Consider it a gateway martini; even self-proclaimed non-martini drinkers tend to change their tune after one. As perfect on a summer evening as it is in the depths of winter, it’s a sunny sip designed to make you pucker and lift your spirits.

How To Make A Lemon Drop Martini

INGREDIENTS

• Vodka: A home bar staple. On second thought, maybe not a staple… but certainly not hard to find. Use your favorite brand, or consult our list of the best vodka brands for inspo.
• Cointreau: This orange liqueur is the perfect balance for the other tart lemony vibes. Use leftover Cointreau for margarita making!
• Fresh Lemons: A key component of any drink called a “lemon drop.” Be sure to find bright yellow lemons that have a strong, citrusy smell for peak ripeness.
• Simple Syrup: Unless you’re working in a restaurant or bar, it’s not very likely you have a squeeze bottle of the sweet stuff sitting around. It’s far easier than it sounds, though, and opens the door to countless cocktails beyond the Lemon Drop. To make simple syrup, simply combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. There’s no need to bring it to a boil. Once clear, let it cool before using, and you’re ready to go.
• Garnish: Massage freshly microplaned lemon zest into the sugar until aromatic. For the classic full-rim coating, run a lemon wedge along the rim of the glass—a small incision in the wedge helps it sit securely—then dip into the citrus-infused sugar for a light, even coat. Finish with a twist, and you're ready to pucker up!

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Chill a coupe or martini glass in the freezer 15 minutes ahead of time. Pro tip: If you enjoy homemade cocktails with some frequency, you should clear out a space in your freezer for a few frosty glasses to live. Especially with martinis, a cold glass makes a big difference.

Prepare your glass by making the sugared rim. To do this, rub sugar and lemon zest together in a shallow bowl, mixing until fragrant, then run a lemon wedge around the rim of your martini glass and dip it into the sugar mixture to coat.

Add all ingredients to the shaker and fill it up with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty and cold, then strain into your prepared glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Lemon Drop Martini Variations

• Frozen Limoncello Drop: You know what they say—when life gives you lemons, add a splash of vodka. Think lemonade slushy, but make it Italian (and alcoholic), and you'll have this frozen cocktail.
• Limoncello Spritz: When the sun's out, there's nothing better than a spritz cocktail. Aperol is a classic choice, but this limoncello number transports you to Italy after just one sip. We kept this recipe really simple with just five ingredients, and it takes less than five minutes to put together.
• Lemon Meringue Pie Martini: Unapologetically sweet, tart, and boozy, this martini is like having your dessert and drinking it too.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skimp on the good ingredients: The best part about this tipple is that it’s made with ingredients you likely already have at home. If I could give you one piece of advice here, it’s this: Don’t skimp on the fresh juice. With only four ingredients, each one matters, and lemon is the star.
• The zest is for the best: Taking the extra time to massage the lemon oil into the sugar makes all the difference. You can smell the citrus as soon as the drink is brought close to your face.
• Keep it cool! Shaking the drink is an important step. For the best martini, you want to be able to skate across the top.
• Experiment with different variations: Try using a flavored simple syrup or muddling in fresh berries or herbs.

Storage

The lemon drop martini can absolutely be batched ahead for a crowd. Scale the recipe by 10 and combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Refrigerate for a few hours, then as guests arrive, prepare each drink by measuring 3.75 oz. of the pre-batched cocktail into a shaker with ice and following the steps above.

I wouldn’t recommend making the batch more than 1 day ahead. Fresh citrus is always at its best right after it’s squeezed, and that brightness is what makes a lemon drop shine. While it’s perfectly acceptable to store leftovers, I suggest enjoying the cocktail within 24 hours for the best possible flavor.