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–+ servings
Two lemon drop martinis with lemon wedges for garnish set on white napkins in a silver serving tray
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Lemon Drop Martini

Lemon drop martini is just a few basic ingredients and makes a delicious, refreshing and elegant sipper with the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Yield: 1 martini

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ oz. vodka (citrus vodka is fine but not required)
  • ½ oz. Cointreau
  • ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon simple syrup (see notes)
  • Super fine sugar, for rimming the glass (optional)
  • Lemon twist, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Run a lemon slice around the rim of the martini glass and rim with sugar, if desired.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake for 20-30 seconds.
  • Strain into the martini glass, garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!

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Notes

Vodka: Feel free to use a citrus vodka if you have one on hand and want a really lemon-y flavor. Otherwise, regular vodka is just fine. Make sure it’s a good enough quality though; we don’t want the rubbing alcohol kind.
Cointreau: Cointreau is my favorite for this martini, but you could substitute triple sec or another orange-flavored liqueur if you prefer.
Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is a must. Please don’t use the stuff from a bottle in this drink.
Simple syrup: To make simple syrup, heat ½ cup of water in a small pot over high heat on the stove. Once simmering, stir in ½ cup of granulated sugar. Reduce heat to low or turn off heat completely, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool completely before using. (Extra will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.)
You can also try substituting maple syrup in place of the simple syrup in a pinch.
Adjustments: The measurements in the recipe card above make a really well-balanced martini. However, everyone has different tastes, so if you’d like to adjust this (add more vodka or Cointreau for instance), feel free! Same goes for adding more simple syrup if you want to sweeten it up some more.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 7g
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