Classic Lemon Drop Martini Recipe with Sugared Rim
Make the perfect sweet and tart Lemon Drop Martini using simple ingredients. This easy cocktail recipe balances bright citrus flavor with smooth vodka and features a classic sugared rim for an elegant happy hour drink.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ounces Vodka
- 1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.75 ounce Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 0.75 ounce Simple Syrup (see Notes)
- Coarse sugar, for rimming the glass
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass: Pour coarse sugar onto a small plate. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a chilled martini glass. Dip the rim into the sugar to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.
- Combine ingredients: Add the vodka, fresh lemon juice, Triple Sec, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well: Close the shaker tightly and shake hard until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 15 to 20 seconds. This chills and slightly dilutes the drink properly.
- Strain: Strain the mixture into your prepared, sugar-rimmed martini glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with a fresh lemon twist before serving immediately.
Notes
- To make simple syrup, combine equal parts granulated sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool before using in cocktails.
- For a slightly tarter drink, reduce the simple syrup to 0.5 ounce. For a sweeter profile, increase it to 1 ounce. Taste and adjust for your preference.
- If you prefer a Lemon Drop Shot, use 1 ounce of lemon-flavored vodka, 0.5 ounce regular vodka, 0.5 ounce lemon juice, and 0.5 ounce simple syrup, then shake and strain into a shot glass.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg