Lemon Drop Martini recipe
Sweet, tart, and dangerously easy to drink — the candy cocktail for grown-ups.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka (citrus-infused if available)
- 0.75 oz Triple Sec
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
How to make a Lemon Drop Martini
- Rim a chilled coupe glass with sugar.
- Add vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 12-15 seconds.
- Strain into the sugar-rimmed coupe.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Garnish
Sugar rim and lemon twist.
Pro tip
Fresh lemon juice is non-negotiable — bottled lemon juice will make this taste like cleaning fluid. The sugar rim should be fine sugar, not coarse, and only on half the rim so drinkers can choose sweet or tart.
History of the Lemon Drop Martini
Created in the 1970s at Henry Africa's bar in San Francisco by Norman Jay Hobday. It was designed to taste like a lemon drop candy. The drink became a 1990s staple alongside the Cosmopolitan.
Flavour profile
Tart, Sweet, Citrus, Clean
Variations
- Lavender Lemon Drop — Add lavender syrup for floral notes
- Raspberry Lemon Drop — Muddle fresh raspberries
- Spicy Lemon Drop — Add jalapeño-infused vodka
Practise making the Lemon Drop Martini in the free Virtual Bar game.