IBA
Lemon Drop Martini – IBA
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 25.6% ABV ∙
The Lemon Drop Martini is an IBA-listed sour of vodka, triple sec and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served up in a cocktail glass — a Martini in name only. Icy and bright on the tongue, it finishes crisp and tart with a citrus tang that lingers, cut by a clean, smooth backbone.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Vodka 30 mlTriple sec 20 mlLemon juice 15 ml
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
Tips
- Shake hard for a full 10-15 seconds — the lemon juice needs real aeration to soften its sharp edge.
- Pre-chill the glass as the recipe calls for; a warm glass lets the shaken drink lose its snap within minutes.
- Fine-strain if your shaker leaves ice shards, since nothing here masks a diluted or gritty texture.
- Squeeze the lemon juice fresh right before shaking — bottled juice reads flat against the triple sec's sweetness.
History
The Lemon Drop Martini is the name the International Bartenders Association uses for the classic Lemon Drop on its official list of cocktails, where it sits among the New Era Drinks category. The IBA's specification calls simply for vodka, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice, shaken and strained, matching the drink long served under the plainer name.
The underlying Lemon Drop is generally credited to Norman Jay Hobday, who is said to have invented it sometime in the 1970s at Henry Africa's, the fern bar he founded in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. It has been described as a take on the vodka martini, though closer in makeup to a sour or a vodka-based riff on the Sidecar-style crusta, sweet-tart and typically served straight up. From its San Francisco debut the drink spread quickly through the city's bars and beyond, later also becoming common as a sugar-rimmed shot.
FAQ
What ingredients are in a Lemon Drop Martini?
Vodka, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. It is a vodka-based drink with no vermouth or gin, so the "Martini" in its name refers only to the glass it is served in.
Is there a difference between a Lemon Drop and a Lemon Drop Martini?
Yes. A Lemon Drop is traditionally a vodka shot rimmed with sugar and chased with a lemon wedge, while the Lemon Drop Martini is the same flavor built as a proper shaken cocktail, strained up into a cocktail glass rather than shot and chased.
What's the secret to a great Lemon Drop Martini?
Balance and a hard shake. Fresh lemon juice, a full 10-15 second shake to chill and slightly dilute the mix, and a pre-chilled glass keep the drink bright rather than harsh or watery.
How do you make a Lemon Drop Martini?
Shake vodka, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice together with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Pre-chilling the glass beforehand keeps the drink cold longer once it's poured up with no ice in the glass.
