Classic Lemon Drop Martini

Name: Classic Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 oz vodka; 1 oz simple syrup; 1 oz fresh lemon juice; 0.25 oz orange liqueur; Sugar for rim

by Katy McAvoy

updated May 20, 2026

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There’s no cocktail more refreshing than a classic Lemon Drop Martini. Made with vodka and fresh lemon juice, this tart drink shakes up in less than 5 minutes.

A coupe glass filled with lemon drop martini cocktail in front of a bowl of lemons.

The lemon drop martini recipe is a classic. While there’s lots of stories, the consensus is that the original recipe for the Lemon Drop Martini was created in San Francisco in the 1970s. Made with simple ingredients and served up in martini glasses, this easy cocktail is the perfect combination of sweet and tart – just like the classic lemon drop candy it’s named after.

It’s tempting to skip the sugared rim, but don’t! It’s part of the cocktail recipe and key to making the best lemon drop martini. The cocktail itself is tart and the sugar rim lets that sweet-sour combination hit your taste buds right away.

Lemon drop martinis are some of my favorite cocktails to serve for summer happy hours. They’re easy to make and super refreshing, making them ideal for hot summer days. If you enjoy this lemon drop cocktail recipe, try my lavender lemon drop, strawberry lemon drop, or blueberry lemon drop cocktails.

I always serve this tart, refreshing cocktail with a salty snack like my BBQ Oyster Crackers or Parmesan Sweet Potato Chips.

What’s In A Lemon Drop Martini

Ingredients for a lemon drop martini cocktail.

Vodka – Choose your favorite vodka for this recipe. It doesn’t have to be top shelf, but should be a quality spirit. I like plain vodka, but you could use citron vodka or citrus vodka to up the citrus flavor if you’d like.
Simple Syrup – Make your own simple syrup easily with equal parts water and sugar. Be sure to make it ahead of time so the syrup has time to chill completely before you make your cocktails. Get the full recipe and instructions over on my simple syrup recipe page.
Fresh Lemons – Do not use bottled lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice is an absolute must. It’s the key ingredient to making this cocktail taste amazing. Plus you need fresh lemon for garnish! Plan on half of a large lemon per cocktail for this recipe.
Triple Sec – Triple sec is the classic choice, but any orange liqueur will work in this drink.
Sugar (garnish) – I use regular sugar for the rims of my lemon drop martinis, but superfine sugar works too if you have it on hand.

How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini

A hand running a slice of lemon around the rim of a coupe glass.

Pour sugar into a shallow dish. Run a slice of lemon around the top of a martini glass or coupe glass.

The rim of a coupe glass being dipped into a plate of white sugar.

Dip the rim of the glass into the sugar. Set aside.

Lemon juice being poured into a glass cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.

Combine vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, and orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.

Lemon drop martini cocktail being poured from a cocktail shaker into a coupe glass.

Shake well and strain into your prepared glass. Garnish with a thinly sliced lemon wheel or lemon twist. Enjoy!

How to Garnish a Lemon Drop Martini

The classic lemon drop is a simple drink with delicate flavor. This is not the drink to load up with garnish. Skip the mint leaves and other herbs as well as a big lemon wedge. Instead float a simple lemon twist or very thin slice of lemon on the top of the cocktail, in addition to the sugar rim.

A hand placing a slice of lemon garnish on to a coupe glass filled with a lemon drop martini.

Lemon Martini Variations

Fresh lemon pairs so well with so many fruits that it’s almost impossible not to create variations on the classic Lemon Drop Cocktail! Try my popular Lavender Lemon Drop Martini, the sweet-tart Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini, or a refreshing Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini.

Looking for More Lemon Cocktail Recipes?

Fresh lemon is a delicious ingredient in many refreshing drinks. Try a classic Bee’s Knees gin cocktail, French 75 cocktail with prosecco, or a Strawberry Lemonade with vodka.

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