March 2023 – Lemon Drop

Looking for a delightful cocktail to start the evening?  A Lemon Drop may be the perfect choice.  This cocktail has a bad reputation as many people think this drink is overly sweet.  However, if made properly it is a very balanced drink that allows each person to enhance the sweetness by utilizing a lemon zest sugar rimmed glass thus allowing each person to make the drink their own.  To accomplish this, make sure you only coat half the rim of the glass with the sugar and lemon zest mixture to allow your guest a choice.  If you don’t like a sweet drink then bypass the sugar rim and drink the cocktail straight from the non-coated side of the rim.  I find having Lemon drop cocktails prior to dinner is a great way to start the evening and enjoy a cocktail that can pivot to the taste of your guests by allowing them the choice of how sweet the drink should be, and the basic lemon taste of the drink is refreshing and welcome flavor to many. In addition, it is an easy recipe to turn into a batch drink so that you can prepare several drinks beforehand and have them ready to be shaken and served. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• Ketel One Vodka (or vodka of choice)
• Cointreau
• Simple Syrup
• Lemon – (for fresh squeezed juice, lemon zest and garnish)
• Sugar (granulated)

Tools:

• Oxo two-sided shot glass/jigger
• Martini Glass (Place in freezer to frost)
• Cocktail Shaker
• Muddler
• Cocktail/Martini Mixing Pitcher with Stirrer (optional for making batch drinks)

Directions:

• Make your Simple Syrup Mixture – Heat 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in saucepan and bring to boil then let cool to make simple syrup
• Prepare sugar for rim of glass.
  • Take 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and mix with 3 teaspoons fine lemon zest.  Smash and mix together in a container (that has a lid) with a muddler or the back of a spoon to infuse the zest into the sugar.  Let mixture dry out for 30 minutes and then place lid on container to shake sugar mixture to break apart any lumps. 
• Fill cocktail shaker with ice and then add ingredients for one cocktail.
  • Ketel One Vodka – 2 oz
  • Cointreau – 1 oz
  • Lemon Juice – 1oz
  • Simple Syrup – ½ oz
• Shake very vigorously and set aside for a moment.
• Place sugar mixture on a saucer and some lemon juice on a second saucer
• Dip the rim of a frozen martini glass into lemon juice and then dip into sugar mixture to coat rim of glass (suggest only coat half to allow your guest a choice).
• Strain drink using cocktail shaker (liquid only – no ice cubes – classic martini style) into frozen martini glass
• Garnish with lemon peel

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The items shown above are just suggestions/examples and each consumer should do their own research and choose the proper product that suits their needs the best.