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You make a Lemon Drop Martini by mixing together Vodka, Lemon Vodka, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup…and I know what you’re thinking.
Lemon Drop Martini? Is that as delicious as it sounds?
That’s the first question that sprang to my mind right before I tried my first.
Is that question now in your head too?
Well, let me answer it for you: yes. Yes, it is that delicious.
Wanna know how to make one?
Let’s get mixing.
Lemon Drop Martini Recipe: What do I Need?
(Feel free to skip this bit and jump right to the recipe)
If you want to make Lemon Drop Martini’s, you’re gonna need:
- Vodka
- Lemon Vodka
- Triple Sec
- Lemon Juice
- Simple syrup
- A lemon
- A cocktail shaker
- A cocktail glass
- Lemon Squeezer (optional)
Vodka
As we all know, Vodka is a great alcoholic base for a cocktail. It mixes with pretty much everything and never overpowers – perfect cocktail material.
But which brand is the best Vodka for cocktails? Well, we’ve analysed all of the options and came up with a winner:
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Lemon Vodka
As you’ve probably already guessed, this is where the Lemony goodness comes from.
The lemon vodka adds an extra alcoholic kick, but also the subtle hint of lemon that enhances the citrus tones of the cocktail.
For lemon vodka, we recommend:
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Triple Sec
Triple Sec is a style of Orange Liqueur, that adds to the citrus vibes of this cocktail.
You can read more about Triple Sec in this detailed article.
For Triple Sec, we recommend:
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Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. They just do.
There’s a reason James Bonds says “shaken, not stirred”. It’s because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed Cocktail Shaker comparison article.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
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Cocktail Glasses
This Lemon Drop Martini recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass for the Lemon Drop Martini is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
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If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Lemon Squeezer
Technically, you don’t absolutely need a lemon squeezer to make a Lemon Drop Martini…
…BUT, getting a lemon squeezer will change your life.
When you make as many cocktail as I do squeezing out lemons and limes, a lemon squeezer is a life saver. It makes it easier to get the juice and you also typically get more juice out of the fruit.
It just makes sense.
If you are interested in a Lemon Squeezer, here’s the one we recommend:
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How to make a Lemon Drop Martini
Now that we know what we need to make one, let’s take a look at the Lemon Drop Martini recipe.
Lemon Drop Martini
Tweet this Recipe
Share on FacebookIngredients
- Vodka 20ml / 0.7oz.
- Vodka Citron 20ml / 0.7oz.
- Triple Sec 10ml / 0.3oz.
- Lemon Juice 30ml / 1oz.
- Simple Syrup 10ml / 0.3oz.
- A slice of lemon
Recipe
With a Cocktail Shaker:
- Add Ice, Vodka, Vodka Citron, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup to your cocktail shaker.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a Cocktail Glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Without:
- Add Ice, Vodka, Vodka Citron, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup to a Cocktail Glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon.
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Why is it called a Lemon Drop Martini?
A Lemon Drop Martini is an offshoot of of the classic Lemon Drop cocktail, which was invented in by Norman Jay Hobday, founder of Henry Africa’s bar in San Francisco.
From here, it spread across bars across America and by the 1990’s, a variation of the cocktail was being served in a shot glass.
The cocktail got its name because the taste of the cocktail closely resembled lemon drop sweets (or candies) of the time.
What does a Lemon Drop Martini taste like?
As mentioned above, the Lemon Drop cocktail was called such because it tasted like a lemon drop boiled sweet of the time and the Lemon Drop Martini is not much different.
The only difference between the two cocktails is that the Lemon Drop Martini has extra vodka and simple syrup – an ingredient designed to make the drink sweeter.
So, the Lemon Drop Martini probably tastes more like its namesake than the original.
What can you use instead of Triple Sec?
If you’re looking for an alternative to Triple Sec to use in the Lemon Drop Martini, you probably need to consider some other kind of orange liqueur.
The thing is, you don’t want to lose the orange flavour and you definitely don’t want to loose the booze.
So, you could consider something like Grand Marnier or Orange Curacao.
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But obviously Tripe Sec is recommended and isn’t all that expensive.
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Want More Cocktail Recipes?
Do you love the Lemon Drop Martini recipe, but want to try something a little different? We’ve got you covered!
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