Lemon Drop Shot – A Beautiful Mess

The Lemon Drop Shot was the first shot recipe I ever learned to make. It’s a lot of fun and great to serve at a party. There’s something undeniably perfect about the combination of sweet and sour. This recipe is so fresh and delicious.

This shot recipe is a close cousin to the classic Lemon Drop Martini. In this post, I’ll teach you how to make perfect lemon drop shots for your next gathering.

More shot + cocktail recipes: Green Tea Shot, Chocolate Cake Shot, Vodka Jello Shot, Best Mint Mojito, Homemade Margarita Mix, Cosmopolitan, Classic Gimlet Cocktail, Classic Manhattan.

Ingredients in a Lemon Drop Shot

• Vodka – The base spirit for this shot is vodka. We recommend a quality, mid-priced vodka like Tito’s, Grey Goose or Smirnoff.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed!
• Simple Syrup – You can easily make your own bath using our Simple Syrup recipe.
• Sugar – You will also need granulated sugar for rimming your glass and sugaring your lemons.
• Lemons – Cut into wedges.

Here’s a link to the shot glasses I used. I also love this cocktail shaker.

How to Make a Lemon Drop Shot

1. Chill Your Ingredients: Begin by chilling your vodka, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. Chilling these ingredients in advance ensures your shot will be refreshingly cold.
2. Prepare the Glass: Take a chilled shot glass and rim it with sugar. To do this, dip the rim of the glass in water or lemon juice and then into a small plate of sugar. Gently twist the glass to ensure an even sugar coating.
3. Mix the Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup.
4. Shake Vigorously: Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. This chilling process also helps to dilute the mixture slightly, balancing the flavors.
5. Strain and Serve: Carefully strain the mixture from the shaker into your prepared sugar-rimmed shot glass.
6. Serve with a sugared lemon wedge. Part of the experience of this shot is chasing the shot with a bite into the sugared lemon wedge. It’s delicious and the best part of the experience, so don’t skip it!

Tips for Making

• Try flavored vodkas. If you want to change up your flavor profile a bit, try swapping in various flavored vodkas or even try a citrus vodka for a more intense experience.
• Infuse your sugar with grated lemon zest for a greater sensory experience (our sense of smell is very connected to our sense of taste).
• Try half lemon, half lime juice for a fun variation.

History of the Lemon Drop Shot

The Lemon Drop Shot’s history is closely tied to the Lemon Drop Martini, a classic cocktail that emerged during the 1970s. The Lemon Drop Martini, known for its vibrant blend of vodka, lemon juice, and sugar, served as the inspiration for the shot recipe.

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