Strawberry Lemon Drop with Limoncello
This Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is nothing like the too-sweet lemon drop martinis and cosmos you drank in the late 1990s while watching Sex and the City. That’s because this limoncello lemon drop martini takes the classic lemon drop and reduces the sugar and adds limoncello for the perfect balance.
So read on for all the tips and tricks for making a strawberry lemon cocktail with vodka, Cointreau, limoncello, fresh lemon juice, and homemade strawberry simple syrup. Or just grab your bottle of limoncello, hit that purple Jump to Recipe button, and let’s make a strawberry lemon drop cocktail for the 21st century!
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Ingredients
The classic lemon drop is a daisy cocktail based in a vodka sour using vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, plus sugar syrup. Some even add a sugared rim that throws it well over the top. Throw it out!
Limoncello is a sweet, lemon-flavored Italian liqueur made by steeping lemon zest in alcohol and then adding sweetener. Depending on how its made, it can range from very sweet to slightly tart or bitter.
For cocktails, vodka is vodka, unless it’s poorly filtered. We use Ketel One for vodka cocktails.
Cointreau is a classic triple sec style of orange liqueur made with orange peel and beet sugar alcohol. It’s the orange liqueur in a classic margarita, sidecar, and Water Lily cocktail.
Sugar, water, and strawberries to make the strawberry simple syrup.
Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations and substitutions
- Sub another orange liqueur for Cointreau. Just be aware that Grand Marnier is based in brandy and will be sweeter.
- Change up your simple syrup recipe to showcase another fruit.
- Adjust the amount of simple syrup to suit your taste preferences
Recipe tips and tricks
To make at simple syrup at home, combine equal parts water and sugar in a small pot and heat over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. We’re not making caramel, so don’t boil your simple syrup!
Remove the pot from the heat, add the chopped strawberries, and let it cool completely. Mash the strawberries, then strain into a clean jam jar.
Those strawberries are perfect for making a virgin strawberry soda or adding to yogurt and homemade granola. Store extra simple syrup in the refrigerator for one to two weeks for more strawberry cocktails like my strawberry gimlet.
To make the strawberry lemon drop recipe, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, limoncello, Cointreau, lemon juice, and strawberry simple syrup.
Shake well until chilled, then double strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe. Garnish your strawberry lemon drop martini with a lemon twist or fresh strawberry.
Tip from the wise quacker: The general teaching is that cocktails with citrus juices should be shaken, but cocktails with only alcohols should be stirred.
Recipe FAQs
I recommend double straining any cocktail made with fresh lemon juice or other fruit in order to keep all bits of lemon pulp from your lemon drop. No one wants a chewy cocktail!
Like most liqueurs, limoncello should be stored in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate limoncello if you have space, particularly if you like to drink it straight.
You might be able to freeze your simple syrup in ice cube trays if you have a deep freezer, but simple syrups won’t freeze solid in a standard freezer.
Related cocktail recipes
Check out other delicious mixed drinks from the Ugly Duckling Bakery archives like:
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Recipe
Strawberry Lemon Drop with Limoncello
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
Strawberry simple syrup
- ½ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (60 milliliters) water
- 1 cup strawberries fresh or frozen, hulled and roughly chopped
Strawberry lemon drop
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 0.75 ounces limoncello
- 0.75 ounces Cointreau
- 0.75 ounces strawberry simple syrup
- 0.25 ounces lemon juice
- 1 lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
Strawberry simple syrup
- To make the strawberry simple syrup, add the sugar and water to a small pot over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Don't let your simple syrup boil.½ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar, ½ cup (60 milliliters) water
- Remove the pot from the heat, add the chopped strawberries, and let it cool completely, about 30 minutes. Mash the strawberries, then strain into a clean jam jar.1 cup strawberries
Strawberry Lemon Drop with Limoncello
- To make the strawberry lemon drop, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, limoncello, Cointreau, strawberry simple syrup, and lemon juice.1.5 ounces vodka, 0.75 ounces limoncello, 0.75 ounces Cointreau, 0.75 ounces strawberry simple syrup, 0.25 ounces lemon juice
- Shake well until chilled, then double strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe. Garnish your strawberry lemon drop martini with a lemon twist or fresh strawberry.1 lemon twist
Notes
Nutrition
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