Lemon Drop
A sweet‑tart vodka lemon cocktail with bright citrus snap.
Base spirit
Vodka
Style
Sour
Glassware
Cocktail glass
The Lemon Drop combines vodka, lemon juice, and sugar into a crisp, candy‑bright sour built for clean, pointed acidity. Served up in a chilled cocktail glass with a sugared rim, it balances sweetness with a strong citrus core. The drink’s clarity depends on fresh lemon and precise sugar levels rather than bottled sour mix.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz vodka
- • 1 oz lemon juice
- • 0.75 oz simple syrup
- • Sugar rim
- • Lemon twist
Did you know?
“San Francisco bartender Norman Jay Taylor is often credited with developing the Lemon Drop during the 1970s vodka boom, when bars competed to make the crispest, cleanest citrus cocktail.”
Source:Imbibe; PunchDrink archives
Bartender's Note
Use superfine sugar on the rim for cleaner adhesion and less clumping.
How to make the Lemon Drop
- 1Chill glass and sugar the rim.
- 2Shake all ingredients with ice.
- 3Strain into glass.
- 4Garnish.
