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Classic Lemon Drop Martini: Your New Favorite Zesty Citrus Cocktail

A vibrant yellow, icy Lemon Drop cocktail served in a sugar-rimmed coupe glass with a citrus twist garnish.
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Learn to make the perfect, balanced Lemon Drop Martini with a beautiful sugared rim. This easy vodka drink delivers bright, tart, and sweet flavor in under five minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 0.75 ounce orange liqueur (like Triple Sec or Cointreau)
  • 0.75 ounce simple syrup
  • Granulated sugar, for rimming
  • Lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the glass: Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a chilled martini glass. Roll the outer edge of the rim in a shallow dish of granulated sugar until coated. Set the glass aside.
  2. Combine ingredients: Add the vodka, fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  3. Shake well: Close the shaker tightly and shake hard until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 15 to 20 seconds. This chills and slightly dilutes the drink for the best texture.
  4. Strain and serve: Double strain the mixture into the prepared, sugar-rimmed martini glass.
  5. Garnish: Express the oils from a lemon twist over the drink and place the twist on the rim.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, always use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled juice.
  • Adjust the simple syrup amount if you prefer a tarter or sweeter drink.
  • To make a quick Lemon Drop Shot, use the same ingredients but serve in a shot glass without shaking as long.
  • For a Limoncello Martini Twist, substitute the orange liqueur with 0.5 ounce of Limoncello.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://sundayflavor.com/lemon-drop-recipe-classic-martini/