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Lemon drop martini in a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon wheel, on a wooden bar

Lemon Drops (Classic Lemon Drop Martini)

A bright, sweet-tart cocktail of vodka, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, shaken hard and served in a sugar-rimmed glass.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka citron vodka, if you like
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup plus more to taste
  • 1/2 oz triple sec or Cointreau optional
  • Ice cubes for shaking
  • Fine sugar for the rim
  • Lemon twist or thin lemon wheel to garnish

Method
 

  1. Chill a martini or coupe glass in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  2. Dip the rim in simple syrup, then in fine sugar to coat.
  3. Add the vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and triple sec to a cocktail shaker and fill two-thirds with ice.
  4. Shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds until the shaker is frosty.
  5. Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass.
  6. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Notes

Always use fresh lemon juice; bottled juice tastes flat in this drink. Classic ratio: 2 parts vodka, 1 part lemon, 3/4 part syrup — adjust to taste. Lemon drop shots: shake the same mix and strain into small sugar-rimmed shot glasses. Pre-mix the vodka, lemon and syrup and refrigerate up to 1 day; shake with ice per serving.