Summer Lemon Drop Martini Recipe

This post is going to show you how to make the classic Lemon Drop Martini with a little pink twist!

Lemon Drop’s gained their popularity for being simple, delicious, and photo-worthy.

They are known to be served UP in a chilled coupe glass with a sugar rim!

This is such an easy one to break out for a backyard picnic, summer day, or when you’re feeling a little extra!

Let’s get right into this recipe, I call this Lemon Drop :

“Baddie” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

This is a vodka based cocktail! For this recipe I will be using Ketel One. I love using this for fun summer time recipes! It is so smooth and easy to mix with! I feel that it accentuates some of the lighter citrus and floral flavors we will be using in this lemon drop! I got my bottle at Total Wine and More but it should also be available at Bevmo,Target, and most Liquor Stores!

Next up we will be using Liqueur de Violettes by Tempus Fugit Spirits! Normally in a Lemon drop you would be using Cointreau which is an orange flavored triple sec. In this recipe I am substituting the cointreau for this beautiful light liqueur de violettes. This liqueur is aromatic and has a floral flavor that blends in so nicely with the lemon juice we will be using. This ingredient also gives the cocktail its slight pink hue that gives you those summer time vibes. Contrary to Crème de Violette, this liqueur really lets the floral flavors sing rather than the sweetness. I picked up my bottle at Total Wine and More, but I also know they carry it at some select liquor stores!

Citrus and Other Ingredients:

This wouldn’t be a lemon drop without Fresh Lemon Juice! Thats right, we only use fresh juices around here! Nothing beats the taste of fresh ingredients in a cocktail. They add such an elevation to a cocktail and accentuate all of the flavors to their maximum potential!

The tool I am using in the photo above is probably the greatest addition I’ve added to my home bar! It is a hand-pressed stainless steel citrus juicer! This little tool is so amazing. It has an ease with the squeeze, you can fit multiple pieces of fruit inside, it has a pour spout, and makes NO mess! So much easier to use than any other citrus juicer I have used before. I’ll leave a link on Amazon for one just like mine RIGHT HERE. I was so happy when I found out they are affordable! When I was starting my home bar didn’t have much at all, so affordable tools like this really helped me out on my cocktail making journey.

Now, like I mentioned before we will be getting a little sweetness from our liqueur de violettes, but not as much as we would with crème de violette. To add a touch more sweetness to our lemon drop we will be making some Simple Syrup!

Just like in the name, simple syrup couldn’t be easier to make! You just need hot water and white sugar. While there are different variations of simple syrup varying on how sweet you want it, we will be sticking to the 1:1 ratio! This means  equal amounts of white sugar to hot water.

• On a stove top bring a desired amount of water to a simmer/ slight boil.
• Add in equal parts of white sugar to the water and lower the heat just a bit.
• Make sure not to boil the mixture and stir until you have a syrup like consistency.
• You did it!

Since simple syrup stays good in the fridge for about a month, feel free to make a larger batch if you are making cocktails again! I like to store my syrups and juicers in glass containers like in the photo above. I use pour spouts that fit in perfectly to make sure I get precise measurments! Make sure to always label and date your syrups and juices so that you can assure you are using fresh product. We only want you serving yourself and friends the best!!!

Check out this awesome set of glass containers I found RIGHT HERE that come with labels, pour spouts, and more! Such an awesome addition to your home bar and a way to really keep yourself organized which is key!

You will also want to have some granulated white sugar on deck! This is for the classic rim on a lemon drop!! To apply a rim for this cocktail:

• Pour a small pile of sugar onto a small kitchen plate or tray
• Take a wedge of lemon and run it along the outer lip of your glassware.
• Hold the glassware on its side and dab the outer lip with the sugar. Rotate it around so you cover the whole circumference of the rim.
• You got it! Make your rim however thin or thick that you would like! You are the one drinking it so make it just how you like it! (You can see that for my own I made the sugar rim nice and thick! With a wet towel I went in and made the wavy grooves afterwards)

I got my sugar at Target for $3.00! Every grocery store should have this available for you to pick up and it lasts forever!

Bar Supplies:

To shake this lemon drop martini I will be using a Boston Shaker! The Boston shaker is a mixture of two tins, one larger than the other. They clasp together to make a seal while you shake your cocktail! Shaking your cocktail dilutes it’s contents and creates more volume for your final product. I have always used boston shakers at the bar and I highly recommend them for your own home bar! Check a set out just like mine RIGHT HERE!

In the photo above is a Bar Jigger! A jigger is how you measure precise ingredients for your cocktails. Having a balanced cocktail is always the goal along with consistency! You can achieve that by making sure your measurements are always on point. My bar jigger ranges from 1/4 oz to 2 oz! It is such necessary tool in my opinion and having one at home will really let you practice your pouring skills! Get one just like mine easily RIGHT HERE!

When I was a beginner and first started making cocktails I actually used a jigger that was a little more simplified. It only had one side, a pour spout, and very distinct measurement lines! It’s such an incredible jigger to help you build your skills and it definitely got me to where I am today. I will link the exact same beginner jigger I used RIGHT HERE if you are just starting out!

To strain our lemon drop, you will need a Hawthorne Strainer! This strainer catches large ice particles and small pieces of debris from entering your fresh glassware. A hawthorne strainer will fit perfectly on top of your large tin as you flip it upside down to strain! This is definitely a must have bar tool for making cocktails at home and luckily is very easy to get a hold of! They sell them at Total Wine and More, Bevmo, Target, and on Amazon RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge Ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you see above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. I will link an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal little Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginner Kit: HERE

Advanced Kit: HERE

Let’s Build!