Classic Lemon Drop Martini Recipe: Perfectly Tart and Sweet
I am so glad you are here to learn how to make this Classic Lemon Drop Martini. This recipe focuses on achieving the perfect balance between tart fresh lemon and smooth sweetness, complete with the signature sugared rim. It is an elegant citrus cocktail perfect for happy hour or your next party.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz premium vodka
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz simple syrup
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- Fine granulated sugar, for rimming
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the martini glass: Pour a thin layer of fine granulated sugar onto a small plate. Take a lemon wedge and run it around the rim of your chilled martini glass. Gently dip the rim into the sugar to coat it evenly. Set the glass aside.
- Combine ingredients: Add the vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and orange liqueur to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- 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.
- Strain and serve: Double strain the mixture into your prepared, sugar-rimmed martini glass.
- Garnish: Express the oils from a lemon twist over the drink by twisting it, then place the twist on the rim or drop it into the glass.
Notes
- For the best flavor, always use fresh lemon juice; bottled juice changes the taste significantly.
- If you want a slightly sweeter drink, increase the simple syrup to 1 ounce. For a tarter profile, reduce it to 0.5 ounce.
- To make a big batch for entertaining, multiply the ingredients and mix them in a pitcher without ice. Keep the mixture refrigerated. When ready to serve, shake individual portions with ice or pour over ice into a shaker, shake briefly, and strain.
- Consider using a high-quality, smooth vodka for this recipe, as it is a primary flavor component.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg