How to make the best lemon drop martini cocktail with a homemade lemon sugar rim. This is one of our absolute favorite cocktails to make at home.
Watch the Recipe
We’ve been making these lemon drop martinis for years. Our friends know them well, and if you read through the comments, our readers do, too.
The key to the best lemon drop martini is balancing sour and sweet. Our recipe calls for fresh lemon juice. It’s incredible!
Key Ingredients
- Vodka: The base of a lemon drop is vodka, so use one you enjoy. A few of our favorite mid-priced vodka brands are Kettle One, Stolichnaya (Stoli), and Tito’s.
- Cointreau or Triple Sec: Both are orange-flavored liqueurs. I especially love Cointreau, but it is more expensive than Triple Sec, so use whichever you prefer.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is best when making lemon drop martinis. I use the juice from half a large lemon to make one cocktail. I also love using lemon zest for the sugar rim!
- Simple syrup: Use store-bought or make your own. Here’s how I make simple syrup.
How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini
To make the best lemon drop martini, I highly recommend adding lemon sugar to the rim of your martini glass. It takes this cocktail up a notch. To make it, use a microplane to zest a lemon into sugar. Use your fingers to rub the lemon zest into the sugar until it smells like lemon and looks pale yellow. Then, spread the lemon sugar out on a plate.
Chill your martini glass, rub a lemon wedge around the rim, and dunk the glass into the lemon sugar.
I use a cocktail shaker filled with ice when making lemon drop martinis. Add vodka, Cointreau (or Triple Sec), fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup, close the lid, and shake until very cold. Strain the martini into your prepared glass and enjoy!
Make Ahead Lemon Drop Martinis
Lemon drop martinis are perfect for making ahead. I love doing this when I have a group of friends coming over! Instead of making each martini individually, you’ll make a large batch in a pitcher and then chill it in the fridge. You can also make the lemon sugar in advance!
To make a pitcher that serves 4, you will need 1 cup (8oz) vodka, 6 tablespoons (3oz) Cointreau, 1/2 cup (4oz) lemon juice, and 6 tablespoons (3oz) simple syrup.
To serve them, moisten the rim of each glass, dip it in the lemon sugar, and then pour in the premade martini. It’s easy. You can also do this with Cosmopolitan martini cocktails!
Perfect Lemon Drop Martini
- PREP
- TOTAL
For the best lemon drop martinis, use good-quality vodka and freshly squeezed lemon juice, and keep everything cold. If you plan to make lemon sugar, remove the zest from the lemon before juicing.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
Lemon Drop Martini2 ounces (1/4 cup) quality vodka, try a citron vodka
3/4 ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) Cointreau or triple sec
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh squeezed lemon juice (juice from 1/2 large lemon)
3/4 ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) simple syrup
Ice
Lemon sugar, for glass rim
Lemon Sugar1/2 cup granulated sugar
Zest from 1 lemon
Directions
- Make Lemon Sugar
1Add sugar to a plate, then rub the zest into the sugar with your fingers until it is tinted yellow and fragrant.
- Make Martini
1Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with the juiced lemon, turn the glass upside down, twist into the lemon sugar, and set aside.
2Add vodka, Cointreau (or triple sec), lemon juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds or until very cold. Strain into the prepared martini glass and serve immediately.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Simple syrup: Use store-bought or make homemade simple syrup.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
You May Also Like...
This is a nice, easy to accomplish recipe.
This is the best homemade recipe I’ve found for a lemon drop! Easy to make. Made the simple syrup in the micowave.
So glad that you found us! We are so happy that you enjoyed your cocktail 🙂
Incredible!
Absolutely delicious!!!
Hands down best lemon drop martini! You MUST use Cointreau. I know its expensive but I think that is what makes a difference.
Tried this recipe today, it was so refreshing for the pool!!! Definitely going to be my go to lemon martini.
Delicious!! Can’t wait to make at my next dinner gathering.
Thank you for this recipe! It’s so simple and delicious. It’s always our go to! Such a refreshing treat after a long day of work here in South Carolina
Switch the plain vodka or Cointreau/ Triple Sec to Limoncello liqueur for true lemon flavor! Much better
Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to try it over Easter. Can I make a jug of this by multiplying measurements, or is it best to make in small batches? Thank you.
Definitely, just be careful when people pour their drinks, these are potent.
This is a perfect Lemon Drop recipe!! So tasty and leaves you wanting more! The lemon zest & sugar combo on the rim is a great touch.
This recipe is perfect! We tried a different recipe first, and it was not good. Found this one and won’t make anything else from now on!!
Oh wow, that is such great news, Paul.
This is a good recipe, try this frozen Minute Maid lemon juice, a couple of scoops in an ice-filled mixing cup, 1-2 shots of absolute citron, squeeze Myers lemon fresh cut, and shake till chilled; serve in a chilled sugar-rimmed martini glass, Cheers
Fabulous lemon drop martini.