Cocktail Recipe: Lemondrop

This is my adult beverage of choice - the Lemon Drop. AKA Lemontini. I have to be careful when I order it in a bar, because every bartender has a different idea of what I mean when I say: lemon drop. Some will give me a sugared shot glass with flavored vodka in it. Others concoct odd brews of various juices and syrups. But my favorite drink couldn't be simpler: it's really just lemonade and vodka.

This is what you need to make it:

Lemonade

Vodka

A cocktail Shaker

A measuring cup

Ice

Martini glass

Pretty garnish (I used a star fruit for the above photo.)

If you want to sugar the rim (a dirty phrase if ever I've heard one), simply dump a pile of sugar onto a small plate, rub a lemon wedge around the edge of the glass and twirl the rim of the glass in the sugar. I rarely do this because I don't need the extra sugar and the glasses are a bitch to clean after the fact. They never fit correctly in my dishwasher.

First up, fill your cocktail shaker with ice.

Then measure out a third of a cup of vodka into the shaker.

I like Svedka. It's cheap. I can buy the big bottle and I honestly can't tell it apart from Skyy. It's not like I drink it straight, so who the hell cares.

I do get cranky about my lemonade, though. Nothing from concentrate. Nothing with corn syrup. I like Newman's Own because it's generally cheaper than other brands (around $2 per half gallon) and it contains less sugar. I also like that I can screw the lid tight and shake it up before pouring it.

Measure and pour about a half cup of lemonade into your shaker. Or just fill the remaining space in your shaker with lemonade, if you're not the measuring type. I like my cocktails to be 60% lemonade and 40% vodka. If you're more of a lightweight, you may want to reduce the vodka percentage. (I think it goes without saying that I'm the furthest thing from a lightweight. The proper antonym here is probably: lush.)

SHAKE it like a Polaroid picture.

Pour.

This recipe makes two cocktails.

Enjoy.

VARIATIONS:

Fresh Berry Lemontini - add a half dozen fresh or thawed raspberries to the shaker before adding vodka. Shake it a little longer. (Blackberries, blueberries and sliced strawberries also work for this.)

Flavored Vodka Lemontini - Substitute flavored vodka for Svedka. This will work with just about any flavored vodka, but I really like Pearl's flavors. The plum is delicious, but the blueberry is my favorite.

Lime-tini - Substitute limeade for lemonade.

Cranberry Lemontini - Half lemonade/half cranberry juice.

Happy drinking!

Comments

[LizP]

I'll have a cranberry lemontini please ... driving time from Eugene 2.5 hours ;-)

[maggie may]

This looks ridiculously delicious- and dangerous.

[Carla Goodrich]

Thanks, Manda! for comparing Svedka to Skyy...as I was just in dilemma this evening deciding! And, I remembered the 'Queen of the Cocktail' rejoicing Svedka...I love me some Sex on the beach! Just mango/oj w/a splash of cranberry and of course Peachtree Schnapps!

love you! Thanks for the proportions, too! :) Get that book published I want to read it! Happy V-day to you and Dave! Carla

[Molly]

Ok, I'm officially ready for a cocktail! And I agree, Svedka all the way.

[laura]

Okay I have 5 1/2 months until I can try this. Let the countdown begin!! I will be posting this on my fridge and dreaming until then :)

[Siera]

I do love these!!! I like with minute-maid lemonade (in Canada) and with Amaretto and Lemon flavored vokda(I guess it doesn't really matter) and it goes down smooth.

[Rebekah]

The Lemon Drop is a favorite in our household as well, and while I agree with you on the choice of vodka, I respectfully disagree on the Lemonade choice. Have you tried Simply Lemonade? It's the best thing I've ever tasted next to homemade. It's not from concentrate and has no artificial sweeteners. I really like that it has the right amount of sweetness balanced with tartness, without tasting super-saccharin. I think it beats the pants off of Newman's. Give it a try next time - I think you'll be pleased. Oh, and I have no affiliation with the company Simply Lemonade, I'm just a huge fan of their juices. :)

[Natalie]

Great, now I want a cocktail. And it's only 9 am here.

[Michelle]

These look insane!

[Hushamanda]

If you notice someone combing your blog for over 30+ minutes today (Sunday), just find safety in that it was me looking for your Lemon Drop.

And btw - please disregard all drunken typos in this comment.