About Lemon Drop Martini
We may be a few inches away from the start of a new school year (and the beginning of Fall and Halloween and pumpkin spice and OMG a whole new year) but the heat is still blazing here in Phoenix. And for better or for worse, these 100+ temperatures will be lingering around for us well into September.
I’m not even joking here. It’ll be months before I’ll be able to experience the joy of a crisp fall breeze.
So, what does all this weather chit-chat mean for you?
Well, it means that I’ll still need plenty of chilled beverages to cool down my evenings with, and this lemon drop martini is my latest obsession.
I’ve been a big fan of limoncello ever since a good friend of ours introduced me to it years ago – but then, who isn’t a fan of limoncello?
How can you not love it once you’ve tried it?
It’s like a drinkable lemon drop candy, and made all the better by it being a liqueur.
I might be alone here on this one, but there’s something special about having a “grown up” version of your favorite childhood treats.
I mean, there’s gotta be some perks all these adult responsibilities, right? For me, that’s aging up all of my favorite tastes from yesteryears.
This isn’t the first time I’ve made a recipe with limoncello – just check out these limoncello cupcakes or the limoncello dressing on this fruit salad – and I guarantee it won’t be the last time. Limoncello is just too good not to enjoy it in all possible forms.
And as for how this Lemon Drop Martini turned out?
It was an absolutely perfect addition to my evening chill-out routine after a long, especially warm day. It’s sweet just limoncello but with an extra twist of lemon. It’s like lemonade, but somehow still manages to be even better.
Next up on my cooking to-do list is to make limoncello from scratch.
It takes a few months to do it properly, but when it’s done?
Totally win on all fronts.
Plus, I need an endless limoncello resource for all these martinis I’ll be making!
How to measure this limoncello martini
This martini is written like a standard drink recipe, meaning that instead of an exact measurement (ex: 1 cup) the recipe will be stated as “1 part.”
I know this can be a little confusing at first, but I’ve found the best way to explain it is this: Recipes that measure in parts usually mean it’s written so that you can adjust the size of the martini to whatever size you need but still keep the ratio of the ingredients correct.
For example, let’s say you wanted to make one drink – this typically means you’re using 1 standard shot glass for measuring. So then when the recipe says “1 part” you would interpret that amount as “1 standard shot glass” full. If the recipe says “1/2 part” you’d fill the shot glass halfway so that it’s “1/2 standard shot glass.” OR, let’s say you wanted to make enough drinks for a few friends. When making the drink you could interpret “1 part” as “1 cup” (or “1/2 part” to “1/2 cup.”)
Using this method, the drink will taste the same no matter what size you make it.
Notes & tips for this lemon martini
- Like the mason jar cocktail shaker used in the recipe video? You can get a near identical one here: Mason Jar and Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker Set. And if you already have a ton of mason jars and just need a cocktail shaker lid, you can pick one up here: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker Lid.
- Or maybe you like the glasses it’s served in? You can get a similar set here: Classic Martini Glass.
More colorful drinks
Recipe Details
Lemon Drop Martini
Ingredients
Instructions
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On a small plate, add yellow sugar. Wet the rim of a glass with simple syrup (or lemon juice) and gently dab the top the glass in the yellow sugar, coating the rim. See above video for example. Set glass aside.
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Combine vodka, limoncello, sweet and sour mix, lemon juice, and sugar in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until sugar is dissolved.
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Pour into prepared martini glass. Garnish with a floating slice of lemon.
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Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Recipe lightly adapted from 1001Cocktails.
Love a good martini and anything lemon is perfect for the summer! Will definitely be trying this out in the very near future!
Thanks Lana!
Is it 5 o’clock yet? I need one of these! Looks delicious!
Thanks Suzette!
I love candy cocktails, and this one sounds perfectly sour and sweet!
Indeed it is! Thanks Madeline 😀
Limoncello is where it’s at. Love this recipe…pinning it for future happy hours!
Yes! Limoncello is <3 😀 Thanks Stacy!
Oh gosh, this looks amaazing!! Want it now!!! XO
Thanks Ruthie!
Oh yum! Wonderful recipe…I’ll be making this for an upcoming cocktail party I’m hosting.
Awesome Jennifer! If you do make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out 😀
This looks amazing! My mouth is watering!
Thank you Suzzane! 😀
Hmmm, Step 2 says “until sugar is dissolved” but no sugar is in ingredients except for the yellow sugar that is for the rim of glass. How much sugar goes IN the martini, please?
Oh no, sorry about that! It’s 1 tablespoon of sugar in the drink. I’ve updated the recipe so it should be correct now. Thank you for letting me know!
Can I replace the sweet and sour for anything else?
My wife loved it. Thanks Chrisy
Love this martini! It’s sweet yet clean and brite! I have this recipe memorized. And by living in Florida I can make it often 🌞
Lana f/ the Sunshine State.