Lemon Drop Martini

The lemon drop martini is a bright, refreshing cocktail that perfectly balances tart citrus with just the right amount of sweetness. Made with fresh lemon juice, vodka, and a hint of orange liqueur, it’s shaken until icy cold and served for a crisp and refreshing experience. This classic martini is the ideal drink for any occasion, whether you’re hosting a party or enjoying a relaxing evening at home.

It is well known that I prefer my cocktails to have a higher ratio of sour to sweet; usually I’ll mix a 2:1 ratio. But for the lemon martini, I mix the lemon juice and simple syrup in almost equal measure. That’s because the lemon, on its own, is so tart and astringent. The simple syrup and the Cointreau soften the lemon’s tartness and strong flavor.

With a 3/4 to 1 ratio, the lemon in this lemon drop classic martini doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. The drink is well-balanced and tart enough to be refreshing without making your lips pucker.

In my opinion, this is the best lemon drop martini recipe out there.

Want to up your lemon martini game? Use my lemon infused vodka in this recipe.

Helpful tips

• When I make martinis for other people, I put the glassware in the freezer for 10 minutes before starting the recipe.
• Since lemon is a sour fruit, some people prefer an equal amount of simple syrup to lemon juice. I prefer a ratio that is slightly more sour than sweet – so a .75 to 1 ratio of sweet to sour. Try these proportions first and taste the result before you add more simple syrup if you ultimately want a sweeter taste.
• The way to pick a great lemon at the market is to first heft it in your hand. The heavier lemons have more juice than the lighter ones.
• When picking a lemon, smell it too. The more lemon fragrance, the fresher the lemon.
• Try to gauge the thickness of the rind. The thinner the rind, the more juice it will yield.
• Before juicing the lemon, roll it between your palm and a hard surface like a counter. Doing this will help release the juice.
• I like having lemon wheels as garnish, but you can use a lemon twist, add some lemon zest or lemon wedges instead.
• Some people like to rim the glasses with granulated sugar. I find that too sweet but try it both ways to see what you prefer.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

How to make a lemon drop martini

Pre-step

Get 2 martini glasses and a measuring glass. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes and pour the ingredients into the cocktail shaker once they are measured out.

Also, cut a few lemon slices. I like to use thin lemon wheels because they float nicely in the cocktail.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – vodka, Cointreau, or orange liqueur like triple sec, lemon and simple syrup.

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of vodka. (A)

Step three

Measure 1.5 ounces of Cointreau. (B)

Fresh Lemon Juice

Step four

Squeeze enough lemons to yield 2 ounces of lemon juice. (Read the tips above – I only had to use one lemon.) (C)

Step five

Measure 1.5 ounces of simple syrup and slice two thin lemon wheels from a fresh lemon. (D)

Step six

Cap shaker, shake for at least 20 seconds, then strain and divide the contents into each cocktail glass. Place a slice of lemon wheel in each glass. It floats nicely.

Let’s look at the vertical view.

I hope you enjoyed this lemon drop martini recipe! It’s so good.

Other popular lemon recipes

• Lemon curd margarita
• Sage limoncello martini
• Aviation cocktail
• Naked lady
• Lemon infused vodka

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!