This lemon drop martini recipe is bright, refreshing, and perfectly sweet-tart. It’s made with fresh, simple ingredients for an easy, bar-quality cocktail at home!
The lemon drop martini is one of those classic cocktails that never goes out of style! The combination of tart lemon, smooth vodka, and a sparkly sugar rim is so bright and festive, it’s perfect for gatherings of all kinds.
The lemon drop was one of the first cocktails I ever made at home: since then, I’ve published over 300 cocktail recipes! Since then, I’ve made it dozens of times and every time, I’m surprised at the bright, refreshing flavor that’s possible in just 5 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
- Fresh, bright flavor: My recipe balances the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup to make each one shine
- Simple ingredients: It uses just five basic ingredients that are easy to find
- Bar-quality results at home: The sugar rim and lemon twist garnish give it a professional look
- Quick to make: It’s ready in 5 minutes!
5-Star Reader Review
“Thank you for this recipe! Quick and easy for a last-minute cocktail, and since we usually have organic real maple syrup on hand, this was a hit!” -Kristin B.
Ingredients You’ll Need
A lemon drop martini is a sweet and sour version of a vodka martini. Also called a lemon drop, it’s a classic cocktail on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. That means it has an official definition of how to make it:
- Citron vodka (or regular vodka): For my spin on the lemon drop martini, I use standard vodka to keep it simple. In our taste tests, citron vodka only adds a subtle citrus hint to the finish. But if you have citron vodka, by all means use it here!
- Cointreau or triple sec: I prefer using Cointreau as the orange liqueur in this drink, but triple sec also works.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brings the zippy, tart flavor (avoid bottled lemon juice: it doesn’t come close flavor-wise!).
- Simple syrup: Simple syrup balances the flavors: it’s a bar cart staple that’s easy to make at home.
How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini
If you’re ready to get drinking, here are the basic steps to the lemon drop martini:
- Make the lemon twist. The lemon twist makes a sophisticated lemon drop martini! Here’s my method on How to Make a Lemon Twist without special tools. For an easier garnish, simply slice a lemon wheel, cut a notch in it, and add it to the rim of the glass.
- Rim the glass with sugar. A classic lemon drop is served in a martini glass with sugar on the rim. This helps to balance out the tart flavor of the cocktail.
- Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Place 1 ½ oz vodka, ½ oz Cointreau, ½ oz lemon juice, and ½ oz simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add 1 handful ice and shake until cold.
- Strain into a glass and add garnish. Strain the drink into the martini glass and add a lemon twist or lemon wheel.
Tips for a Perfect Sweet-Tart Balance
Here are a few tips I’ve learned after making this recipe many times:
- Start with the base recipe, then taste and adjust. My ratio has a balanced sweet-tart note, but if you prefer more tartness, reduce the simple syrup to ⅓ ounce. For a sweeter version, increase it to ¾ ounce.
- Lemon size matters. A large lemon yields 3 to 4 tablespoons of juice, smaller lemons have 2 tablespoons. Each cocktail needs 1 tablespoon (½ ounce) lemon juice.
- The sugar rim adds sweetness. That sugar rim balances the tartness with each sip. If you’re making a sweeter version, you might want to skip the rim.
Flavor Variations to Try
Once you’ve mastered the classic lemon drop martini recipe, you could try these variations:
- Meyer Lemon Drop: Swap regular lemons for Meyer lemons when they’re in season (in the winter).
- Berry Lemon Drop: Muddle 4-5 fresh raspberries or strawberries in the cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients.
- Spicy Lemon Drop: Muddle 2 to 3 jalapeno slices in a cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients.
- Grand Marnier: Substitute Grand Marnier for the Cointreau; it adds deep flavor notes and a darker color to the drink.
For more inspiration, check out my collection of lemon cocktails!
Frequently asked questions
A lemon drop shot is much smaller (about 1.5 ounces) and typically served in a shot glass with a sugar-coated lemon wedge to bite afterward. The lemon drop martini is a full-sized cocktail (3 ounces) served in a martini glass with a sugar rim.
Yes! You can substitute agave nectar, honey syrup (equal parts honey and water), or maple syrup. Maple syrup is what reader Kristin used in her 5-star review, and it adds a subtle caramel note. Note that maple syrup does give a slightly darker color to the drink.
I have not tried this myself, but you could replace the vodka with lemon-flavored sparkling water or non-alcoholic vodka. Substitute the Cointreau with 2 teaspoons of orange juice concentrate. Keep the lemon juice and simple syrup the same. Shake everything with ice cubes and strain into your sugared glass.
Absolutely. Gin creates a more botanical version. White rum works too, giving it a slightly tropical vibe. Tequila turns it into something similar to a margarita but with a drier finish.
Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Pin RecipeThis lemon drop martini recipe is bright, refreshing, and perfectly sweet-tart. It’s made with fresh, simple ingredients for an easy, bar-quality cocktail at home!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces citron vodka or vodka
- ½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Superfine sugar, for the rim (or substitute granulated)
- For the garnish: Lemon twist or lemon wheel
Instructions
- Cut a notch in a lemon wedge, then run the lemon around the rim of a martini glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of superfine sugar.
- Make the lemon twist garnish.
- Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice, and shake until cold.
- Strain the liquid into the glass with the sugared rim. Garnish with the lemon twist.
Notes
Vodka options: Any good quality vodka works here: I like Tito’s, Absolut, or Grey Goose. Citron vodka adds extra lemon flavor but isn’t necessary.
Orange liqueur: Cointreau has the most refined flavor, but triple sec or Grand Marnier work as substitutes.
Adjusting sweetness: For a tarter drink, reduce simple syrup to ⅓ ounce. For sweeter, increase to ¾ ounce. Taste and adjust based on your preference.
Batching for a crowd: Multiply the vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup by the number of servings. Store in a pitcher and stir with a few handfuls of ice.
Yellow color: To achieve a yellow color for this drink, use maple syrup as the sweetener or use citron vodka. With simple syrup and standard vodka, the drink is clear in color.
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