Need a sweet after work treat with a kick? These classic lemon drop martinis are for you! Like a regular martini, these cocktails pack quite the punch… and by that I mean they are DANGEROUS.
I’ve never been a fan of the dry taste of normal martinis but these lemon drops are one of my go to drinks when I have no clue what I want.
These martinis are so easily customizable to fit your taste. You can make them as sweet or tart as you’d like.
Generally, I prefer mine on the tart side but sometimes I crave a cold, sweet drink. Either way you make them, they are STRONG!
You can make these with super fun variations as well. My favorite flavor enhancers for these drinks are lavender and rosemary. These flavors are easy to achieve with my homemade simple syrup recipes. I’ll be sharing those with you the next time I make them.
Not only do these simple syrups do wonders for your lemon drops, but they’re great to use in other cocktails, desserts and regular non-alcoholic drinks.
If you’re not a fan of the herbal flavors, you can always add fruit
I’ve made these cocktails using strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. I have to say they all make fantastic additions… plus they make the most beautiful colored cocktails. But in my opinion, nothing comes close to a frosty lavender lemon drop.
Does it matter what vodka I use?
I always suggest you go with your favorite brand for cocktails. I’ve found that when you’re mixing it into a drink, it doesn’t matter quite as much as it does if you’re drinking it straight.
So in short, use your favorite one! Sometimes I like to get fun with this ingredient and use flavored ones.
Skyy makes some of the best flavored vodkas in my opinion and they have a huge selection. They’re not too thick, syrupy or artificial tasting like some other brands.
Grey goose also makes some good ones, but they don’t have nearly as many flavor options.
What if I don’t have simple syrup?
If you don’t have any simple syrup you can easily make some or you can just use table sugar
The majority of the time I just use regular white sugar. I refuse to buy premade mixes and that includes simple syrup. It just does not taste the same as homemade.
If you do decide to use granulated sugar just know that you will probably have some left at the bottom of your glass. I find it gives me a nice, sweet last sip that I really enjoy. Others may not feel the same way.
A trick that I’ve learned is to add the sugar into the vodka first and mix that around. It will help dissolve some of it before you add the rest of your ingredients to shake.
What if I’m on a special diet?
If you’re on a special low-carb or gluten free diet, don’t worry you can still enjoy a refreshing lemon drop!
Tito’s is my favorite gluten free vodka brand. This is probably the brand I’ve got the greatest experience with, as it has been the most frequently requested vodka in my experience
Don’t worry I didn’t forget about those of you on a low carb diet. Regular sugar is a carb, but there are a couple other sweeteners that are allowed on a low-carb diet.
You can make this keto friendly by substituting the sugar or simple syrup with stevia or monk fruit. I have not made this cocktail (or any other cocktail) with these so I can’t vouch for the end result.
Classic Lemon Drop Martini
Things You’ll Need:
Cocktail Shaker and Jigger (find a full set here)
Cutting Board/Knife
Martini Galss, Chilled
Ingredients:
2 OZ Vodka
Juice from 1/2 Lemon
1-2 OZ Simple Syrup
Ice
Sugar
Steps:
- Chill your glass by filling with ice and water. Set aside
- In cocktail shaker add vodka, juice from 1/2 lemon, simple syrup and ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
- Dump ice water from chilled glass. Rim glass with lemon and then sugar.
- Strain contents of shaker into sugared glass. Enjoy!