Tulo

Lemon Drop Recipe

A pale yellow lemon drop martini in a sugar-rimmed coupe glass, garnished with a lemon twist, condensation beading on the glass.
Photo by Vitaliy Haiduk on Pexels

Fresh lemon juice instead of bottled gives the drink real brightness instead of a flat, one-note sourness, and a hard shake with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it just enough to balance the sugar rim.

Prep
8 min
Cook
0 min
Total
8 min
Servings
1

Ingredients

Servings1
  • 2 fl oz vodka
  • 3/4 fl oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 fl oz triple sec or Cointreau
  • 1/2 fl oz simple syrup
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar, for the rim
  • 1 twist lemon twist, for garnish

Nutrition per serving

Calories
342
Protein
0g
Carbs
21g
Fat
0g

Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.

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Instructions

  1. 1Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of a chilled martini or coupe glass, then dip the rim in granulated sugar and set the glass aside.
  2. 2Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full with ice.
  3. 3Add the vodka, fresh lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup to the shaker.
  4. 4Seal and shake hard for 12-15 seconds, until the shaker feels ice-cold and frosts over on the outside.
  5. 5Strain into the prepared glass through a fine-mesh strainer, leaving any ice shards behind.
  6. 6Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Tips & variations

  • Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice only; bottled juice has a flat, slightly metallic taste that a drink this simple can't hide.
  • Swap the triple sec for a splash of limoncello for a more pronounced lemon-candy flavor.
  • For a lemon drop shot instead of a martini, skip the sugar rim and serve the shaken mixture straight up in a chilled shot glass.
  • Make the simple syrup ahead by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat, then cooling completely; it keeps refrigerated for about a month.

Storage & reheating

This drink is meant to be shaken and served immediately, it doesn't hold well once diluted. To prep ahead for a party, batch the vodka, lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup together in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 2 days, then shake individual portions with ice and rim the glasses right before serving.

Tips from the Tulo kitchen

  • Chilling the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before rimming it helps the sugar stick better and keeps the finished drink colder longer.
  • Roll the lemon between your palm and the counter before juicing to break down the pulp and get more juice out of it.

FAQ

What's the difference between a lemon drop martini and a lemon drop shot?

They use the same ingredients in the same ratio; the martini is strained into a sugar-rimmed glass and sipped, while the shot is served smaller and straight up without a rim, meant to be drunk in one go.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

It will work in a pinch but the drink loses a lot of its brightness; bottled juice is often pasteurized and mixed with preservatives that dull the sharp, fresh citrus note this cocktail depends on.

What can I use instead of triple sec?

Cointreau or Grand Marnier both work well and add a bit more depth than basic triple sec; limoncello is a good swap if you want a stronger lemon flavor instead of orange.

How do I keep the sugar rim from dissolving too fast?

Use a coarse or superfine sugar rather than powdered sugar, and pour the drink gently down the side of the glass rather than straight down the middle so it doesn't wash the rim away.

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