The Lemon Drop Cocktail
Originating in the 1970s at Henry Africa's bar in San Francisco, the Lemon Drop quickly became a global favourite, echoing the sweet and sour flavour of its namesake candy. This cocktail is part of the Daisy family, known for its simple yet refreshing mix of ingredients: vodka, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice.
The choice of vodka matters, but the selection of orange liqueur is crucial for balancing the flavours. We recommend Cointreau, which is made by macerating bitter orange peels in sweetened grape liquor, adding a rich, citrus depth to the cocktail.
In contrast, Triple Sec, produced through compounding—mixing neutral ethyl alcohol with sugars and artificial orange extracts—provides a sweeter, less nuanced flavour, which we do not recommend.
How to Make a Lemon Drop Cocktail
- A nice vodka. We recommend Nemiroff. Check out our brands page to find out why.
- You’ll also need lemons, and a nice orange liqueur like Cointreau or Dry Curacao.
- Lastly, you’ll need a shaking set and a cocktail glass. We recommend a two-piece tin on tin. Filth & Vermouth makes great kits and are proudly Canadian.
Bartender tips:
- Sugar Rim: Consider rimming only half the glass with sugar, giving customers the option to enjoy their drink with or without extra sweetness.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Always opt for fresh lemon juice over bottled to preserve the vibrant citrus flavor of the cocktail.
- Chill the Glass: Serve the Lemon Drop in a chilled glass to ensure it stays cool and refreshing from start to finish.
- Balance Your Ingredients: Adjust the sour and sweet ratios slightly depending on the lemon's tartness and the liqueur's sweetness, tasting as you mix to find the perfect balance.
Variations
A Lemon Drop is just as commonly made as a cocktail as it is a shot. For an easy twist, you could add in muddled fruit such as raspberries or strawberries.
And if you made one with gin, it’d be called a White Lady. With cognac? A Sidecar. All of which stem from the Daisy, which was one of the first cocktails to feature orange liqueur as a sweetener.
And the Daisy? Well, that Daisy stems from an even lesser known cocktail called the Crusta, which calls for spirit, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and maraschino liqueur.
As part of the Daisy cocktail family, the Lemon Drop can be adapted using the standard Daisy ratio: 2 oz spirit, 0.75 oz citrus juice, and 0.75 oz sweetener.
This formula allows for consistent results and flexibility in adjusting to personal taste preferences.
