Enjoy sipping all spring and summer on this sweet, tart & yummy cocktail; Lemon Drop Martini with Limoncello. If sunshine came in beverage form, this would be it.
Why this Limoncello Martini Recipe is Amazing: It takes a classic lemon drop cocktail and elevates it with Italy's favorite lemon liqueur.
This is my favorite Vodka Martini Recipe for spring. The pretty yellow color & the tart citrus seems to wake up my senses along with the sunnier days of the season.
If you have never had limoncello, you are in for a treat. The lemon liqueur is mainly produced in the Southern Coastal regions of Italy- Capri, Amalfi Coast etc. One sip and you will feel whisked away to Italia.
This was inspired by another Italian inspired cocktail, my recipe for Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. Ok, now let's shake up a few drinks!
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Ingredients for Limoncello Lemon Drop
Just a few ingredients needed for this simple cocktail. There are 3 main ingredients for this martini but don't skip the other two for the sugar rim that sets any lemon drop recipe over the top.
Here are important notes for some ingredients:
- Limoncello - this lemon liqueur is made in Italy but easy to find in many mainstream liquor stores or grocery stores in the United States.
- Vodka - Tito's plain or your favorite brand (not citrus)
- Simple Syrup - to sweeten and balance the tart citrus flavors.
- Super Fine Sugar - for the glass rim
- Lemon - to help the sugar stick to the glass rim & for garnish
See the recipe card for full list, quantities, & any substitutions/variations.
How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini with Limoncello
This cocktail shakes up in just 1 minutes - so quick & easy. Begin by gathering your ingredients and the equipment needed.
Here is what you need to make these martinis. Grab two martini glasses with or without stems & a cocktail shaker. Plus a cutting board, knife, & small plate for applying the sugar rim to the glasses.
NOTE: If you don't have a cocktail shaker see my TIPS section below.
Here are the easy steps for making a martini with limoncello & vodka:
- Add Sugar Rim
- Shake & Pour
See the step-by-step instructions with photos below plus the recipe card at the end of the post.
1 - Add Sugar Rim
This step makes this feel & taste like a fancy cocktail you would order at your favorite bar. You can skip it but I never do!
Begin by cutting a lemon in half. To one half cut it into two wedges. The the other half slice it into rounds.
Take a lemon wedge and rub it around the rim of each martini glass.
Next pour the super-fine sugar onto a small plate. Gently roll the rim of the glass into the sugar to coat.
2 - Shake & Pour
To the cocktail shaker fill it ½ way with crushed or cubed ice. Measure out the limoncello, vodka, & simple syrup. Add each to the shaker and close the lid tightly.
Shake the cocktail vigorously for 15 seconds. Remove the small top and pour equal amounts through the strainer top into each glass.
Garnish each glass with a lemon slice. Sip & ENJOY!
Serving & Storing
These martinis like all martinis are best served chilled & frosty cold. Other garnish ideas include simply adding a lemon twist or fresh herbs instead - a basil leaf is perfectly Italian to match the Limoncello.
You can also make a pitcher of these for parties ahead of time. Make several batches and add them to a pitcher (no ice) and keep chilled in the fridge until ready to pour.
What to Serve with Limoncello Martinis : Make it a cocktail party or a fun happy hour at home. The BEST thing to serve these will are my Black Pepper Taralli, a classic snack from the Puglia region of Italy.
Or put out a meat & cheese board with my favorite charcuterie crackers, roasted prosciutto-wrapped figs, & a batch of marinated tomatoes with garlic.
Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
Here's my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, fun stories, recipe history, and more.
- #1 Tip - shake the martini enough so it gets nice and cold.
- Don't have a cocktail shaker? Use a large mason jar with tight fitting lid. I have even used a sports bottle/thermos when making campfire cocktails.
- Any plain vodka will work; try Grey Goose, Absolut, Belvedere, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Svedka, or Costco's Kirkland.
- If you are looking for an alcohol-free martini, try my sweet & pretty Pink Mocktail.
- In the summer I love to serve this with Fig & Brie Bruschetta as a first course before grilling some Italian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks.
- I did try this once without the sugar rim (trying to cut back on carbs & such) and it wasn't not nearly as good. I did try it once also with the monkfruit blend I have for keto baking & it was sugar-free & zero carbs but again just isn't the same. Have you tried this either way - which is your favorite?
FAQ
A traditional lemon drop martini is made with fresh lemon juice & not the liqueur. It typically uses a citrus vodka and some also include cointreu like this recipe.
There's no good alternative other than simply using more vodka, lemon juice & simple syrup. I advise purchasing the limoncello or making a regular lemon drop cocktail instead.
YES! I make homemade limoncello all the time. It works great in this recipe. My big jug seen below shown before the final straining process would surely make a lot of tasty martinis.
LOVE THIS RECIPE & WANT TO SEE MORE?
Lemon Drop Martini with Limoncello
Equipment
- 2 Martini Glasses
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 3 ounces limoncello
- 3 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- super fine sugar
- 1 lemon cut in half; both for garnish slices & juice for the rim
Instructions
- Cut the lemon in half. To one half make slices and the other cut into wedges.
- Rub the rims of two martini glasses with a lemon wedge.1 lemon
- Add a tablespoon of super-fine sugar to a small plate. Roll the rim of the glasses now into the sugar. The lemon juice should make it stick & stay in place.super fine sugar
- In a cocktail shaker fill it half way with crushed or cubed ice. Add the cocktail ingredients & place the lid on tight.3 ounces limoncello, 3 ounces vodka, 2 ounces simple syrup
- Shake vigorously for 15 seconds to chill & combine the drinks.
- Remove the small top of the shaker and pour equal amounts of the limoncello martini through the strainer into each glass.
- Sip & enjoy!
Notes
- use a mason jar with tight lid if you do not have a cocktail shaker.
- Lower carb, skip the sugar rim or use monkfruit sweetener sparingly since it is a more concentrated sweetener.
- This works with homemade or store-bought limoncello.
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