How to Make a Perfect Lemon Drop Martini

A medium-sized lemon usually yields about 1.5 to 2 oz. of juice.

Lemon Drop martinis exist for those drinkers who aren't afraid of a little sourness. Combining different types of lemon flavorings, this cocktail invokes the Lemon Drop candy of its namesake, adding an adult twist to a childhood favorite. A cocktail that fits into happy hour, as well as the tail end of the night, a Lemon Drop martini is well-suited for those who prefer a mixed drink that doesn't taste like alcohol.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Martini glass
• Ice
• Club soda
• Shaker tin with lid
• Strainer
• Bread plate
• Superfine sugar
• Lemon-infused or flavored vodka
• Lemon juice
• Simple syrup
• Lemon slice
• Lemon twist

1. Fill the martini glass with ice and club soda to chill it.

2. Spread 1/4 cup of sugar evenly on the plate's surface; this is to garnish the glass later.

3. Add 1 cup of ice to the shaker tin, then pour 2 oz. vodka, 1 oz. lemon juice and 1 oz. simple syrup, seal it and then shake vigorously for about 20 seconds until the tin starts to feel icy.

4. Empty the ice and club soda from the glass, then squeeze a lemon slice onto the lip of the glass, rotating the glass while squeezing.

5. Place the lip of the glass gently into the sugar, then rotate it to rim the glass with sugar.

6. Strain the tin's contents into the glass, leaving about a 1/4-inch space from the top to protect the sugar rim, then garnish with a lemon twist.

Tips & Warnings

• For homemade simple syrup, dissolve 1/2 cup of sugar in 1/2 cup of water.

• For homemade superfine sugar, grind 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a food processor for about 20 seconds.

• Instead of rubbing the lip of the glass with a lemon prior to sugarcoating it, pour about 1 oz. simple syrup onto another bread plate and cover the glass's lip with the syrup, then the sugar.

• Substitute an orange-flavored vodka and add a splash of pomegranate juice to make your martini taste like Pez candy.

• Try alternating a glass of water between Lemon Drops --- the drink's sugar content can really hurt you the next morning.

• Remember to drink responsibly and never get behind the wheel afterwards.

References

• "Classic Cocktails: Over 170 Drinks from Yesteryear That You Can Enjoy Today"; Tom Bullock; 2001
• "Bartending for Dummies"; Ray Foley; 2010