The perfect lemon drop martini should be refreshingly tart, not cloyingly sweet. Lucky for you, this is The Most Refreshing Lemon Drop Martini! Give it a try soon.
Lemon Drop Martini
I’ll admit it, I’m a lemon drop martini snob. If I’m served a lemon drop martini that is not icy cold or is too sweet, I probably won’t come back to your bar or at least not order another mixed drink. I know, sounds harsh, but I would prefer to just make my own cocktails at home and stick to wine and beer when I’m out if the cocktails are not made with attention to detail.
I know I’ve mentioned in other cocktail posts about how little things matter, when it comes to mixing the perfect drink at home. That’s especially true for The Best Mojito and this amazing cosmo recipe. These are the kinds of things a busy bartender might not have time to do or does not have access to at his bar.
However, last year I did have a lemon drop martini at a restaurant that I absolutely loved. It was cocktail perfection.
When it comes to a good cocktail, top of the line ingredients are key, but so is a bartender who pays attention, which is why the same drink is so different depending on the skill of the maker. When making cocktails, always sweat the small stuff. Always!
What’s In A Lemon Drop Martini?
One of my favorite ingredients for lemon drop martinis is this ultrafine pure cane sugar.
You can find this sugar in the baking aisle of the supermarket in what looks like a milk carton. It’s not the same as the pourable superfine sugar, it has to be ultra. The ultrafine sugar, sugars the rim of the glass perfectly, with a nice thin layer of sweetness. You don’t want this sugared edge to be thick and gritty.
Also a thinly, rimmed martini glass is also a must.
Lemon Drop Ingredients
- fresh lemon juice
- top shelf vodka
- ultrafine sugar
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I use a small sieve to sprinkle the ultrafine sugar onto my glass rims that have been dipped in lemon juice.
Ultrafine fine sugar is key in this recipe! Do not use regular sugar on the rim or in the drink.
Fresh lemons are a key ingredient in this drink (obviously) and one thing I cannot live without in my kitchen is my citrus press.
This lemon press squeezes your lemons and limes to almost dry. It’s not even possible to get as much juice out when you squeeze lemons or limes with your hands. Even the driest lemon or lime will yield lots of juice with this press. And it lasts for years and years. You have to have one. I always make sure I have one on backup too.
A lemon drop martini needs to be icy cold. And while this drink is shaken vigorously in ice, it benefits from an icy finish in the glass, but you don’t want to add ice cubes.
This is where a high performance blender comes in and the reason they are pricey. You can crush ice to snow cone consistency in 10 seconds. I then add it to a freezer bag and keep it in my freezer to scoop out when making cocktails. It will stick together but it breaks up easily. So worth it and it undoubtedly makes a difference in this drink.
A chilled glass doesn’t hurt either.
Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
- Dip the edges of a martini glass in fresh lemon juice and then dip those edges in ultrafine sugar
- Using a citrus press, squeeze the juice out of a 5-6 oz lemon into a cocktail shaker. The lemon should be pretty dry once you’ve done this.
- Add vodka and 1 tablespoon of ultrafine sugar into cocktail shaker and fill halfway with large ice cubes.
- Vigorously shake for at least 40 shakes to dissolve sugar all of the sugar.
- Strain into a martini glass and scoop in finely crushed ice to float on the top.
- Add a thinly sliced lemon round to float on the top.
GET THE FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE FOR THIS LEMON DROP MARTINI BELOW. ENJOY!
You are going to love this drink.
Recipe Tips for a Lemon Martini
- Thinly sliced lemons will float on the top of your cocktail and give it an elegant look.
- Remember, the little things count when it comes to cocktail making, especially the presentation when served.
- A floating slice of lemon and a cold glass with a sugared rim are absolute eye candy.
- A lemon wedge could also be placed on the glass rim instead of floating on the drink itself.
Serve this martini for any occasion that requires a good cocktail. And don’t forget to use top shelf vodka. Lower quality vodka gives your cocktails a sharp, dull, taste.
More Cocktail Recipes
- Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
- Spicy Watermelon Margarita
- Wine Slushies
- Dirty Shirley
- Agave Margarita
- Cherry Sangria
- Negroni
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The Most Refreshing Lemon Drop MartiniThe perfect lemon drop martini should be refreshingly tart, not cloyingly sweet. Lucky for you this is The Most Refreshing Lemon Drop Martini! Give it a try soon.
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 240kcal
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
*I never measure my lemon juice exactly. With a juice press I know I will get enough juice out of the whole lemon. If you are hand squeezing you might have to use more than one lemon as your yield of juice will be low.
NutritionNutrition Facts
The Most Refreshing Lemon Drop Martini
Amount Per Serving (1 cocktail)
Calories 240
Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.2g0% Sodium 0.8mg0% Potassium 94.1mg3% Carbohydrates 18.3g6% Fiber 0.3g1% Sugar 14.3g16% Protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 5IU0% Vitamin C 48.7mg59% Calcium 6mg1% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Debbie says
Yum! I have a tree laden with Meyer lemons- this looks like a great use for them. 🙂
Cathy says
That will be fabulous.
Cindy says
This drink sounds delish! I too have a Meyer Lemon tree. Just a quick question and I hope it doesn’t sound stupid, but when you say a 5-6 oz lemon you are referring to the weight of the lemon? Not how much lemon juice you will squeeze out, right?
Thanks, Cindy
Cathy says
The weight of the lemon.
Liz says
I tried these last summer and they immediately became our favorite Friday afternoon cocktail. Think the weather is saying it’s time to start making them again!
Cathy says
Agreed!
Beth says
Hubby and I just love these! Lip smacking goodness!
Cathy says
Yes!
julie says
This drink sounds so refreshing! Can’t wait to make it at my next get-together.
Cathy says
Enjoy it!
Becky Hardin says
Seriously is it 5 oclock yet? I need one or two of these in my life.
Cathy says
yes you do.
Sommer says
Made these this weekend and wow! The best martini I’ve ever had.
Cathy says
So happy to hear that!
Lori says
How much sugar do you add to the lemon and vodka before shaking? And, do you use the ultra fine for that or just regular?
Cathy says
I tablespoon of ultrafine sugar. You will also sugar the rim of the glass with ultrafine sugar.
april says
Do you think it is about an ounce of lemon juice?
Cathy says
I really don’t measure it. I use a large lemon, but I use my squeezer (linked) and it gets so much more juice out of a lemon than hand squeezing ever could. Likely it’s more than an ounce.
Ann says
Have you tried this with gin? I like gin rather than vodka. But either way, it sounds so refreshing. Can’t wait to try it.
Cathy says
I have not.
Michele Glemser says
I too, am not fond of Vodka …
Gin works beautiful.🍸
Cheers
Tonya says
A for awesome!
Jackie Tuler says
This is the BEST lemon drop Martini ever!!! I am so hooked
Cathy says
Yes it is!
Kim says
I love this recipe! So refreshing!
I’ve been making a lot of these during our covid 19 lockdown! Thx for sharing this is a keeper!
Mary Elek says
should I use citrus flavored vodka or plain?
Cathy says
The recipe calls for plain.
Curt says
I was craving a late night Lemon Drop Martini and this simple recipe did the trick! Didn’t have any ultra fine bakers sugar, so I just put regular sugar in our Ninja blender for about 10 seconds, followed the other suggestions for chilling the glass and coating the rim with lemon and sugar and I can say that, even this way, it was the best Lemon Drop Martini I’ve ever had! I’ll try it next time with the ultra fine sugar when I get a chance to get to the store. Thank you for sharing!
Cathy says
Yes!
Martin says
Quite possibly the best lemon drop I’ve ever made. Thanks for all the suggestions. Love that squeezer, can’t beat it.
Cathy says
I’ll have to agree with you sir.
Lisa says
Making these for Friday night, best lemon drop martini recipe out in the wild!
Cathy says
Great!
Justine says
By miles, our fave lemon drop recipe.
Cathy says
Great news.
Nancy T says
So many lemon drops are too sweet, this one was perfectly balanced, sweet and sour. The best for sure.
Cathy says
Happy you loved it.
Chester says
Can never get enough of this one. Very good.
Cathy says
Thanks.
Kate says
You’ve given every bar a run for their money with this recipe! Best lemon drop ever.
Cathy says
Sure have!
Farah says
THIS lemon DROP martini was insanely good!!! Great balanced recipe.
Cathy says
I have to agree!
Ross says
You’re right about the small details when it comes to making cocktails, this lemon drop martini turned out so good.
Cathy says
Happy you enjoyed the lemon drop.
Talia says
By far my favorite lemon drop martini. Thanks for the recipe.
Cathy says
Cheers!
Shirley says
Three cheers for this lemon drop martini, it was delish.
Jack says
I loved this lemon drop martini, it was the best.
Jenny says
I am a big fan of this lemon drop martini recipe.
Nicole says
Hi- I want to try this so bad but do no have ultrafine sugar! Could I sub out with a tablespoon of regular sugar for now?? or even with simple syrup because I literally want to try this right now lol
Cathy says
If you use regular sugar you need to shake the cocktail vigorously for much longer than you normally would so the sugar melts and at that point it still might not completely melt into the drink or you might be left with gritty sugar. Ultimately the drink could be more sour. You can try simple syrup but I find it’s not as good made that way. Go ahead and use what you have, knowing that you are probably not experiencing the same drink I’m posting about.
Barb says
Cheers to this lemon drop martini it so so balanced and good to drink. Love the tips.
ken says
What a delicious lemon drop martini, going to make again this weekend.
Linsey says
Absolutely loved this lemon drop martini, it was so refreshing and extra ice was perfection.
Jackie says
I’ve been making this Lemon Drop martini I for the last 3
years now. It is amazing!!! My mother is german and she married a Greek. She sent me the most amazing citrus press they use in Greece.
I can’t get enough of these!!!
Frenie says
This lemon drop martini is the best I’ve had!!
Lauren says
My absolute favorite lemon drop martini, always the best!