The Lemon Drop is an iconic vodka cocktail that's stood the test of time and become popular the world over. The simple pair of sour lemon and sweet sugar is balanced with a splash of vodka for a very satisfying and easy to make cocktail.
The Lemon Drop is still popular, but it's been a bit overshadowed in recent years with the immense rise in popularity of the Espresso Martini. But with its crowd-pleasing citrus flavors, I think the Lemon Drop (and many playful variations on the original recipe) are set to make a big comeback.
When was the Lemon Drop invented?
The Lemon Drop first appeared during the 1970s, when vodka was becoming more and more popular with American drinkers. According to Liquor.com, the drink was invented by one Norman Jay Hobday and quickly became a staple on bar menus across the country (and the world).
And it's easy to see why - it's made with readily available ingredients that just about any bar would have on hand. The sweet and sour lemon flavor and a neutral-tasting vodka base made the Lemon Drop appealing to a wide audience, especially during the vodka cocktail heyday of the 1980s. The drink also began to appear in a short form on menus as a shot or a shooter, introducing it to a younger generation of drinkers.
A sour, not a martini
While sometimes served in a martini glass or called a "Lemon Drop Martini", it's technically a sour or a daisy. Martinis are made with vodka or gin and dry vermouth. In fact, the Lemon Drop has more in common with the classic Margarita than it does with a vodka martini!
A sour-style cocktail is one that's made with spirits, lemon or lime juice and sugar or simple syrup. Many sours will also use egg white to create a white foam on top. A daisy is a type of sour that uses a specific sweetener - most typically an orange liqueur.
The Margarita is an example of a daisy (tequila, lime juice, triple sec), as is the classic Sidecar (brandy, lemon juice, triple sec). Daisies may also have a splash of club soda, which can soften the flavors of a drink (much like the froth of an egg white does for a sour). Ok, class dismissed - on to the cocktail!
Ingredients
The Lemon Drop is made with just four ingredients, plus sugar for the rim. Here's the list:
Vodka
You can use any vodka you prefer for a Lemon Drop. I like to use Absolut, which is what I typically stock in my home bar. You can also make some fun variations on the classic by replacing the plain vodka with a flavored one like Absolut Vanille (vanilla flavored vodka), Grey Goose L'Orange, or even a berry flavored vodka like Stoli Blueberry! More on recipe variations below.
Lemon juice
It's critical to use freshly squeezed lemon juice when making a Lemon Drop. The lemon juice is providing the primary flavor of the drink and using bottled juice will make for a less-fresh tasting and somewhat acrid or bitter cocktail. While sweet and sour mix is an option and has been used for ages to make the drink in bars, you will always get the best tasting Lemon Drop using fresh juice!
Triple sec
Triple sec, or orange liqueur, is a key ingredient in the Lemon Drop (and the classic Margarita). The liqueur provides a softer citrus note and adds sweetness. I use Cointreau for my Lemon Drops. You could also use a curacao such as Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao.
Simple syrup
Simple syrup adds a little extra sweetness to balance the sourness of the lemon and the booziness of the vodka and triple sec. If you just want to make one or two drinks and don't need a full batch of simple syrup, you can make a quick tiny batch by stirring together ¼ cup warm water and ¼ cup sugar. Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator.
Sugar, for the rim
A classic component of the Lemon Drop is its sugared rim. Like a salted rim on a Margarita, this little addition makes all the flavors of the drink pop when you take a sip. While it's optional, I recommend sugaring at least half of the rim and seeing if you prefer with or without!
How to make a Lemon Drop
Now to put everything together! Start with rimming the glass with sugar. To begin, cut a lemon in half and run one half of the fruit along the outside edge of a cocktail glass (martini glass, coupe glass, Nick and Nora, etc). Next, roll that outside edge of the glass in a shallow dish of sugar. Turn the glass upside down to shake out any excess sugar that may have fallen into the glass.
Squeeze the juice from your lemon (you'll need one ounce which is two tablespoons), then combine the vodka, lemon juice, triple sec and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and fill it about three quarters with ice. Shake until very cold, then strain the liquid into your sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.
Recipe variations
Because the template and the flavors are so simple, the Lemon Drop is a fun recipe to riff on. As I suggested above, you can try using different flavored vodkas. Vanilla vodka is a delicious choice. You could also add more depth of flavor by using a cognac-based orange liqueur such as curacao or Grand Marnier.
If you want to make a Berry Lemon Drop, you could muddle a couple of fresh berries, or you could make a raspberry simple syrup or blackberry simple syrup and use that in place of the plain simple syrup. Make a Strawberry Rhubarb Lemon Drop with strawberry rhubarb simple syrup for the perfect spring vodka cocktail!
You may also enjoy these other vodka cocktails:
- Guide to Easy Vodka Cocktails
- How to Make a Perfect Cosmopolitan
- Easy Lemon Vodka Cocktail
- Brown Sugar Espresso Martini
Classic Lemon Drop Vodka Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾-1 oz simple syrup (to taste)
- ½ oz triple sec
Instructions
- If rimming your glass with sugar, first cut a lemon in half and run one half along the outside edge of your glass. Next, roll that outer edge in a shallow dish of sugar. Turn the glass upside down to shake out any excess sugar that may have fallen in the glass.
- Next, combine the vodka, lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill it three quarters with ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into your sugar-rimmed glass and garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.