Lemon Drop Martini (with Limoncello) (2024)

This Lemon Drop Martini made with icy cold Limoncello is the most delicious summer co*cktail. A lemon drop is a light and refreshing vodka martini with a fresh burst of tart 🍋 lemony sweetness.

This summer co*cktail recipe is one of my favorite co*cktails with limoncello.

A lemon drop martini is traditionally made with fresh lemon juice, vodka, and Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur. This co*cktail recipe can also be made with limoncello.

I love everything lemon, and I thought it was about time to share my favorite lemon summer co*cktail recipe. I hope you’ll love this recipe as much as I do.

Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

• 🍋 Lemony. If lemon is your thing, this refreshing lemon drop martini will surely be your jam.
• Easy. This co*cktail is super easy to make and even easier to drink.
• Make a batch. You can make this recipe a batch co*cktail to serve in a 35-ounce beverage container and keep it on ice for a backyard cookout.

Top Martini Tips

• Chill everything. Chill your martini glasses in the freezer for at least 10 minutes. Icy-cold vodka is also a win-win in martini recipes.
• Use crushed ice. Using crushed ice in your co*cktail shaker gives this martini co*cktail an icy, cold mouth feel.
• Coat the rim with refined sugar flavored with lemon.
• Garnish with a twist of lemon or a lemon wheel.

What You’ll Need

• Vodka. I used Ocean vodka, which is an organic quality vodka from Hawaii. It’s made from sugar cane and is super delicious.
• Limoncello. I used my homemade Limoncello, but you can use any brand.
• Cointreau. Cointreau or Triple Sec, an orange liqueur, adds a bright citrus note to this lemon drop recipe.
• Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always best.
• Lemon Sugar*. Lemon sugar is used to rim the glass of this co*cktail. You can buy lemon sugar or make your own by adding the zest of one lemon + 1/2 cup sugar to a food processor and processing the sugar until it is super fine. (see notes)

How to Make a Lemon Drop

A lemon martini co*cktail should be super cold. The liquor can even be stored in the freezer beforehand, so it’s freezer-cold. Chilling your martini glasses in the freezer is also a good idea. They will get that frosty chill in about 10 minutes.

1. Chill. Start by chilling the alcohol and glass at least a few hours before.
2. Mix. Add the crushed ice and the alcohol to a shaker and shake gently to mix.
3. Serve. Serve with a twist of lemon zest.

Recipe Variations

Planning for a party. If you have a planned cookout, you can make this lemon martini recipe up as a batch co*cktail (see recipe card) and then store it on ice.

I love to use my Weck beverage pitchers (affiliate link) for this.

Storing + Freezing Tips

How to store

If you want to make a large batch of this Lemon Drop Martini Recipe, store it in the fridge or the freezer until you’re ready to bring it out.

If it’s warm out, you can freeze this lemon co*cktail for several hours before the party; it may get a bit slushy, but it will thaw super quickly and then be ice cold when you serve it.

More co*cktail Recipes

Find more delicious co*cktail recipes like my 🥃 Old Fashioned co*cktail recipe or my 🍾 Champagne co*cktail with Cranberry. I also have a version of the 🥂 French 52 and my 🍑 Bulle Peche co*cktail.

My favorites, of course, are tiki co*cktails like the Blue Hawaii co*cktail and the Pineapple Martini, which is so much more than just pineapple and vodka.

Try your hand at making some homemade Limoncello (Lemoncello). It’s so easy: just three ingredients and a little bit of patience.