Lemon Drop

Sweet-tart and sunny, like a lemon candy in a sugar-rimmed glass. Vodka, orange liqueur and plenty of fresh lemon.

Time: 4 min
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Shaken
Glass: Cocktail (martini) glass

Ingredients

Servings

Amounts below make 1 serving.

Vodka1 ½ oz
Triple sec½ oz
Lemon juice1 oz
Simple syrup½ oz
Sugar — for the rimoptional1 tsp

Garnish: Sugar rim, Lemon twist (1)

How to make it

1
Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass and dip it in sugar.
2
Shake vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup hard with ice.
3
Strain into the prepared glass.

Bar gear

Tools you'll need

Cocktail shakerChills, mixes and dilutes shaken drinks in about 12 seconds. A two-piece Boston shaker is the bartender standard.
JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
Hawthorne strainerThe spring-edged strainer that holds back ice when you pour from a shaker.
Citrus pressSqueezes fresh lemon and lime fast — fresh juice is the biggest upgrade you can make.
Y-peelerCuts wide citrus peels for twists and expressed oils with no bitter pith.

Recommended glassware

Cocktail (martini) glassThe classic V-shaped glass for martinis and cosmopolitans.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: Widely published standard specification. Quantities and basic method are factual. Description and steps are original Mixistry copy. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults of legal drinking age — please enjoy responsibly.