Lemon Drop Martini
A fresh, sweet-tart vodka cocktail with citrus and orange liqueur, served in an ice-cold martini glass with a sugared rim.
Ingredients
- Vodka, a good-quality one45 ml
- Triple sec15 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed30 ml
- Simple syrup (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)15 ml
- Sugar, for the sugared rim (optional)20 g
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 wheel
Method
- Moisten the rim of a martini glass with a slice of lemon and dip it in sugar, so the rim is evenly coated.
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes and add the vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice and syrup.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds, until the shaker is ice-cold to the touch.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into the prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel or twist and serve at once.
About this drink
The Lemon Drop Martini emerged in 1970s California, where bartenders played with citrus and sugared rims to give vodka a touch of disco glamour. The name refers to the sweet lemon drops it imitates in taste and aroma. Today it is a fixture of classic cocktail books as a fresh, tart variation on the martini.
