The Best Lemon Drop Martini Recipe

In honor of my birthday today, I’m sharing with y’all the most amazing Lemon Drop Martini recipe!  It’s cool, crisp, tangy, sweet, tart, zingy, and refreshing.

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Last year, on my 35th birthday, a few of the ladies on the street took me to a local pub for Bingo and Beverages, and I thought that was going to be the best part of my birthday; little did I know the night would end with one of the biggest surprises of my life aka in which my husband wins the marriage 

My friends were all raving about the lemon drop martinis, so I took a sip {YUM}, and then I saw the price per drink and nearly passed out.  After that, I made it my mission to perfect the Lemon Drop Martini. 

Everyone loved the recipe testing process, it involved lots of laughter, many weekends of silliness, sticky counters, and wonderful memories.  I think I had 3 pages of handwritten crossed out recipes, adjustments, additions, etc… The first time I made this lemon drop martini recipe combination there was a brief moment of silence while their eyes lit up, they licked their lips, and they told me to stop right there.  This was it. 

This was THE recipe.  I don’t know if it was the lemon sugar, the tweak in the vodka, the candy… the lemon twist, whatever it was.. THIS was THE winner! 

They have declared these lemon drop martinis to be the best they’ve ever had.

I frequently joke that my Lemon Drop Martini brings all the neighbors to my yard, but it’s true!

Lemon Drop Martini

Today marks the beginning of my 36th year of life, and I can tell you with all honesty that while each year comes with its own unique ups and downs, moments of sheer joy and moments of excruciating pain and sadness; I am truly grateful for every year that I am blessed with.  With each day, I get up and give thanks that I am here, that I am healthy, and that I am loved. 

I strive each day to teach my children to be thankful, to give gracefully, to forgive, to look for the best in others, and to find beauty in the world.  I try to live as an example, but the greatest example I have, and the one who has made me want to be a better person – is my husband, Nathan.

Nathan, I love you more than words.  Thank you for sharing the past 17 birthdays with me.  I am so thankful you chose me.

As a birthday gift to you, from me… Here’s the lemon drop martini recipe that brings all the neighbors to the yard!

Lemon Drop Martini for everyone!

There are a few tricks to making this perfect lemon drop martini recipe that I learned over the months it took me to perfect it.

1.  The cocktail shaker makes a huge difference.  Glass and Metal are pretty and impressive, but the glass breaks easily, and the metal ones get crazy cold really fast, but don’t hold that cold.  After breaking 2 glass ones, rusting one metal one, and getting frustrated over the metal ones not staying cold or being unable to remove the lid because they’re sooo cold – I fell in love with a shaker.  A plastic cocktail shaker, specifically the OXO Plastic Cocktail Shaker. One of the things I love most about that shaker, the lid is the jigger!  It measures 3/4 oz, 1 oz, and 1 1/2 oz – I can’t tell y’all how many times I’ve misplaced a jigger.  I have yet to misplace the top to this shaker.

2. Shake that shaker until you hear the ice starting to break.  You want those ice chips in your drink; they make it that much more delicious!

3.  Don’t forget the lemon drop candy!  It’s a fun, unique addition, and everyone loves the subtle sweetness that it adds to the drink, plus you get candy at the bottom of your drink! It’s like those ice cream cones from when we were kids that had the piece of bubble gum at the bottom of the cone! Do y’all remember those? Nope. Just me.  Happy 36th Rach, you’re old 🙂

The Perfect Lemon Drop Martini Recipe

Simple and delicious Lemon Drop Martini Recipe. A perfect drink for a hot summer day, a girls night out, or just because.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Total Time:10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Prep

• Zest the rind of 1 lemon into 1/4 Cup sugar - blend together and set aside

Lemon Drop Martini

• 3 oz Chilled Citrus Vodka
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1 oz Sweet and Sour
• Lemon Drop Candies

Instructions

• Measure all of the ingredients (except the lemon drop candy) into an ice filled cocktail shaker
• Rim your martini glass with a little fresh lemon juice, unless it's a chilled glass - then you don't need the juice.
• Press the rim of the martini glass into the lemon sugar to give it a delicious lemon sugar rim.
• Add 1 lemon drop candy to each martini glass
• Vigorously shake the cocktail shaker for a couple of minutes, you want this super chilled. Ice chips will break off and you will see them in the glass once it's poured. That is perfection.
• Pour into the glasses and enjoy.

Notes

You can garnish with a slice of lemon if you want to get fancy 🙂

Servings: 2 full martinis

Author: Rachel

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