Lemon Drop Martini

Here’s the best lemon drop martini you’ll have! It’s zesty and refreshing, sweet tart with a crunchy sugar rim.

Want a lemon drop martini? Really, who could turn down this one? This zingy martini is perfectly balanced and refreshingly tart, served with a sugar rim and a lemon twist. It looks so festive that it’s great for celebrations of all kinds. Whatever the occasion: this drink delivers! When we first tried it, we were surprised by its cool, clean flavor and the sophisticated vibe. It’s now solidly a part of our cocktail repertoire.

Ingredients in a lemon drop martini

A Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet and sour version of a vodka martini. It’s similarities with the classic martini are in name only! The Lemon Drop is a classic alcoholic drink that makes 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 vodka)
• Cointreau or triple sec
• Lemon juice
• Simple syrup

For our spin on the Lemon Drop Martini, we 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! We also use Cointreau instead of triple sec as the orange liqueur, and add simple syrup to balance the flavors. This makes the drink very close to a Vodka Sidecar, which uses similar ingredients.

How to make a lemon drop martini (3 basic steps!)

If you’re ready to get drinking, here are the basic steps to the lemon drop martini:

1. 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.
2. Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take the vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and shake it together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
3. Strain into a glass and add garnish. Strain the drink into the martini glass and add a lemon twist.

How to make a lemon twist

The lemon twist is what makes the lemon drop martini! But how to make it? Here’s our method for making to make a lemon twist garnish using no special tools. Head to How to Make a Lemon Twist (with a Knife!).

How to make a sugar rim

Lastly, let’s talk about that sugar rim! The granulated sugar rim on the martini glass makes for a festive look: and it helps to balance out some of that tart flavor! Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:

1. Spread the sugar on a plate in an even layer.
2. Take a lemon wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the rim without having to use your fingers!
3. Tilt the glass into the sugar so that the sugar sticks to the outside edge.
4. Shake off any loose sugar into the sink.

Cointreau vs triple sec

The very best lemon drop martini recipe has Cointreau, not triple sec. Cointreau has a orange perfume flavor that’s well balanced between bitter and sweet. Triple Sec has a more straightforward, intense flavor. If you’re not sure whether you want to buy a bottle, there’s a long list of great Cointreau drinks that use it: like the Classic Margarita and the Cosmopolitan.

Fun fact: “triple sec” means triple distilled: it’s actually not a brand name! Cointreau is a brand made by Remy Martin, but it’s technically also a triple sec because it’s triple distilled. (How’s that for confusing!)

When to serve a lemon drop martini

The lemon drop martini cocktail is tart and tangy, with a festive vibe. It works well for so many occasions. It’s great as a:

• New Year’s Eve drink
• Christmas or holiday drink
• Bachelorette party drink
• Girls night drink
• Celebration drink (you got that job or promotion, had a baby, etc!)
• Dinner party drink

More martini recipes

There are lots of spins on the martini! Here are a few more:

• Classic Martini or Dirty Martini Here’s how to make a classic dry martini: that crystal clear cocktail that oozes sophistication.
• Gibson Cocktail The same as a martini…except for the garnish!
• Vesper Martini Invented by James Bond, it stars Lillet Blanc with gin and vodka.
• Pomegranate Martini or Watermelon Martini These jewel-toned drinks are tangy and light: the perfect fruity variation.
• Cucumber Martini This cool spin on the classic is botanical and fresh.
• French Martini Perfectly balanced with vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur.
• Mexican Martini Full of zingy flavor, with lime, tequila and an olive garnish.

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French Martini

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Espresso Martini

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Pomegranate Martini

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Watermelon Martini

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More classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our best cocktail recipes you might enjoy:

• Classic Margarita The only margarita recipe you need! Here’s how to make the very best margarita with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila—and no added sugar.
• Classic Mojito It’s perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
• Salty Dog Here’s a refreshing citrus cocktail that pairs grapefruit juice, gin, and a salted rim. (The classic version has no salt and is called…a Greyhound!)
• Tom Collins This tall highball drink is a gin sour, a sweet and sour classic cocktail made with gin. It’s refreshing, bubbly, and nostalgic.