History & Heritage
“Norman Jay Hobday introduced the Lemon Drop in the early 1970s at his San Francisco fern bar Henry Africa's. Designed to woo a newly liberated female clientele, the vodka sour took its name and candy-like profile from the lemon drop sweet. The drink spread nationally through the decade's "tini" craze, resurfaced on Oprah in 2006, and helped pave the way for modern fruit martinis like the Cosmopolitan.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice
Shake vigorously and double strain into the glass
Garnish with a lemon twist
Glassware
Served up in a sugar-rimmed martini glass
Garnish
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Double strain to keep the texture silky
Zest lemon into the sugar rim for extra aroma
Chill the glass well to keep the drink bracing
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
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Sour
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Bitter
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Strong
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Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Lemon Drop Martini.
Tart Drop
Cuts back on simple syrup for a sharper bite.
Changes
Strong Drop
Adds extra vodka for a more spirit-forward sip.
Changes
Citrus Bomb
Uses citrus-infused vodka to amplify the lemon.
Changes
Raspberry Lemon Drop
Muddles fresh raspberries for a pink, berry-kissed riff.
Changes
Lavender Lemon Drop
Infuses the syrup with lavender for floral complexity.
Changes
Spicy Lemon Drop
Shaken with jalapeño for a fiery kick.
Changes
Purple Lemon Drop
Switches to gin—especially Empress 1908—for a violet hue and botanicals.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Appletini
A neon-green vodka martini flavored with sour apple schnapps – sweet, tart, and playful.
Bramble
Dick Bradsell's 1980s London creation layers dry gin, fresh citrus and rich blackberry liqueur over a mound of crushed ice for a tart, jammy refresher.
French 75
A crisp union of gin, lemon, sugar, and Champagne that delivers bracing bubbles with artillery-level snap.