Food and Recipes Recipes Lemon Drop Martini 3.0 (1) 1 Review By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 24, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 1 The store shelves are full of flavored vodkas these days, which makes it easier for us to mix cocktails at home that are worthy of a martini bar. A Lemon Drop is tart and fresh tasting, sweetened with only a splash of simple syrup—which is nothing more than granulated sugar dissolved warm water (1:1 ratio) and cooled before using. (Simple syrup keeps for about a month in the fridge, so it's easy to keep a supply on hand for cocktail hour.) But if you like the sounds of a cocktail that's reminiscent of lemon candy, you can sugar the rim of the martini glass. Ingredients 1 medium lemon 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ¼ cup (2 oz.) citrus vodka (such as Absolut Citron) 2 teaspoons simple syrup Directions Cut lemon in half crosswise. Juice 1 lemon half to measure 2 tablespoons juice, and set aside. Discard squeezed lemon half. Cut remaining lemon half into slices. Using 1 lemon slice, wet rim of a martini glass. Reserve 1 lemon slice for garnish; reserve remaining slices for another use. Place sugar on a plate. Dip rim of martini glass into sugar to lightly coat. Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full with ice. Add vodka, simple syrup, and reserved lemon juice. Place lid on shaker; shake until well combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into prepared martini glass. Garnish with reserved lemon slice. Serve immediately. Rate it Print