Tap here to get 5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

Lemon Drop Martini

4.86 from 14 votes
|

posted: 04/09/18

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
|
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Lemon Drop Martini will make you feel like you are at a high end bar right in your own home. Made with just a few simple ingredients and served in a perfect sugar rimmed martini glass, this lemon drop martini recipe is going to become your new favorite!

martini glass on a black background rimmed with sugar, full of a lemon drop martini and garnished with a lemon curl

One of my favorite things to order when I go out for a fancy dinner is a martini. I love a good Dirty Martini, but if it is towards the end of dinner and I am in the mood for something sweeter, a Lemon Drop Martini is the thing that totally hits the spot. A lemon drop tastes lemony sweet, with the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Reader Review

Thank you for this very simple and delicious recipe. I’ve been on a lemon drop kick lately when I go out. Paying $15 – $20 for a martini is crazy when I’ve got the ingredients at home. Love that it’s simple and oh so good. Cheers!!

EASY ENOUGH TO MAKE AT HOME

Would you believe that you don’t have to wait to go out for a fancy dinner to to have a lemon drop martini? This lemon drop martini recipe is so simple, it is easy enough to make at home. It combines just three ingredients to make a decadent cocktail that will feel like dessert.

a land scape photo of the top half of a martini glass rimmed with sugar, full of a lemon drop martini recipe, and garnished with a lemon curl on a black background

LEMON DROP MARTINI INGREDIENTS

This lemon drop martini recipe comes together perfectly with just a few ingredients.

Start with quality vodka. I love using Titos in this recipe, but you find something you love. If you don’t love the vodka, you won’t like this recipe. Make sure it is something smooth.

Next, you need simple syrup. I love making my own simple syrup and keeping a jar of it on hand in the refrigerator, but you can also buy it in the liquor section of your grocery store. The sweetness of the simple syrup is the perfect balance against the sour of our next ingredient.

Finally, you need fresh lemon juice. It is really important, since there are only three ingridients in this recipe that one of them is fresh lemon juice and not bottled. Buy lemons that are firm but with a slight give to them. Microwave them for 10 seconds to help them release their juice. You can also try rolling your lemons between your hand and the counter. Strain the lemon juice to remove any pulp and seeds.

THE LIMONCELLO QUESTION

Some have asked me if you can make a lemon drop martini with limoncello. Don’t get me wrong, I love limoncello with all my heart, but I would stick to lemon juice for this recipe. It brings a freshness to this recipe that perfectly balances the simple syrup and vodka.

martini glass filled with a lemon drop martini, rimmed with sugar, garnished with a lemon curl infront of a bottle of titos and a martini shaker

HOW TO MAKE A LEMON DROP MARTINI

Let’s start by prepping our glass!

Grab a stemmed martini glass. Rim the glass with with a lemon juice. This will help the sugar stick. Now dip the rim of the glass in granulated sugar. If you want to get fancy you could add a little lemon zest to the sugar before rimming.

Now grab your metal martini shaker. I love using metal because it makes your drink ice cold. Fill the shaker with ice.

Add the remaining ingredients to the martini shaker. Don’t forget to strain the lemon juice!

You can finish by adding a lemon curl! A simple way to make a lemon curl is by cutting a slice of lemon, cutting a small slice in it, removing the inside of the lemon and then curling the peel around a chopstick until it makes a nice curl.

OTHER GREAT MARTINI RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE

Let’s not stop with the lemon drop! Here are some other great martinis I know you will love:

If you make this Lemon Drop Martini recipe or any of my other martini recipes, please leave me a comment so I know what you think!

overhead view of a martini glass, rimmed with sugar, full of a lemon drop martini, garnished with a lemon curl with lemons in the background on a black background
a land scape photo of the top half of a martini glass rimmed with sugar, full of a lemon drop martini recipe, and garnished with a lemon curl on a black background
4.86 from 14 votes

Lemon Drop Martini

Serves: 1 martini
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
This Lemon Drop Martini is a classic! So simple and easy to make, yet completely delicious and perfect!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about half a lemon. strained to remove seeds and pulp
  • sugar for garnishing the glass

Instructions

  • Fill a martini shaker with ice.
  • Rub a lemon wedge around the edge of a martini glass. Dip the glass in sugar.
  • Add the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the martini shaker. Shake to combine.
  • Pour into the prepared glass.
Calories: 220kcal (11%) Carbohydrates: 22g (7%) Sodium: 1mg Potassium: 24mg (1%) Sugar: 21g (23%) Vitamin C: 12.4mg (15%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: cocktails
Cuisine: American
a land scape photo of the top half of a martini glass rimmed with sugar, full of a lemon drop martini recipe, and garnished with a lemon curl on a black background

did you make this

Lemon Drop Martini

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you & seeing what you made!

    Rate This Recipe:




  1. Ramona says

    5 stars
    Best simple recipe ever, I normally use Tito’s but lately I’ve been using Ketel One Citroen, it’s lovely.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it, Ramona!

  2. Alecia says

    5 stars
    This is my first attempt at making a mixed drink. I wanted to do something easy and my husband and I love this recipe!!!! I love the Tito’s Vodka in it. So so yummy and easy. Thank you for this recipe.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it, Alecia! We have a whole site of cocktails if you decide you love being an at home bar tender! Shake Drink Repeat

  3. Janice says

    Thank you for this very simple and delicious recipe. I’ve been on a lemon drop kick lately when I go out. Paying $15 – $20 for a martini is crazy when I’ve got the ingredients at home.
    Love that it’s simple and oh so good.
    Cheers!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it!

SUPER-SIMPLEFAMILY FAVORITES
Broccoli Pasta"Omg! I didn’t think anything so simple could be so good!"
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe"My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters."
overhead photo of a gray skillet filled with beef and broccoli recipe, garnished with sliced green onions
Beef and Broccoli Recipe"I have made this a couple or more times. It’s easy & quick to prepare. I like this for a quick meal. It will be my go to recipe."

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

5 Secrets to Make Amazing Cocktails

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!