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Cocktail History
The Lemon Drop is a classic cocktail that was invented by Norman Jay Hobday, the founder of Henry Africa’s in San Francisco, in the 1970s. It was most likely named after the lemon drop candy and is traditionally made with vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Vodka: This is the base spirit. We went with Belvedere Vodka because it’s an award-winning Polish spirit with notes of vanilla, black pepper, Brazilian nuts, and spice.
Triple Sec: This is an orange liqueur. It adds sweet citrus flavors that balance out the other dry ingredients. We went with Cointreau because it’s one of the highest quality triple secs on the market.
Lemon Juice: This adds sweet and sour citrus flavors for balance. We prefer to use fresh citrus juice because it’s less bitter than the bottled stuff and tastes better.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with sugar and water. You can buy bottled simple syrup in a store, but we made ours at home using Alex’s recipe because it tastes better fresh and is very easy to make.
Lemon Twist: This is the garnish. It adds more fresh citrus aroma and flavor.
Tasting Notes
The Lemon Drop features light aromas of lemon and tastes refreshingly tart but not overly sweet with the taste of the vodka mostly being masked by the citrus flavors.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This drink is much too sweet for Alex but is one the cocktails first loved, and that’s why we’re sharing it on her 27th birthday. It’s tart and refreshing, and it’s a good gateway recipe if your palate is underdeveloped and you’re wanting to get more into craft cocktails.
Recipe
AuthorSips From ScriptsPrep Time5 minsAdd vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Ingredients
Directions
Add vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Vodka Cocktails
If you like this vodka-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
• Mountaintop Meadow: A vodka cocktail made with elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lavender bitters, dry sparkling wine, a pineapple wedge, and mint
• Moscow Mule: A vodka cocktail made with lime juice, ginger beer, a lime wheel, and a mint sprig
• Vesper Martini: A gin and vodka cocktail made with Lillet Blanc and a lemon twist
• Paradise Lost: A vodka and sherry cocktail made with coconut water, lime juice, orgeat syrup, Angostura aromatic bitters, and mint
