This 3 ingredient lemon drop martini is bright, sweet, and perfectly tart. It’s made with vodka, fresh lemon, and simple syrup. Not a drop of triple sec needed!

Lemon drop cocktail served with fresh lemons and lemon slices.

When life gives you lemons make…a lemon drop!

My 3 ingredient lemon drop martini is just what you need on your summer cocktail menu. It’s bright, sweet, and has just the right amount of tartness.

I use plain vodka, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. That’s it. There’s no triple sec and no Cointreau. Just three simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand.

I’ve made this one more times than I can count, and the part I love most is how clean it tastes. Skipping the orange liqueur and making the simple syrup from scratch really lets the lemon shine.

It comes together in about five minutes. Just shake, strain, and sip. If you want a fruity spin, I make my raspberry lemon drop the same way.

Kim’s Tips for the Best Lemon Drop

Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled juice tastes flat to me. Fresh lemon juice makes a difference in the overall flavor of this cocktail.

Chill everything first. Try to chill the vodka and simple syrup before you make the drink. I also like to pop the martini glass in the freezer for a few minutes while I mix the drink.

The sugar rim is optional. I love the extra sweetness from the sugar rim, but the drink is great without it. Skip it if you’re short on time.

Want more lemon flavor? Swap the regular vodka for a citrus vodka like Deep Eddy Lemon or Absolut Citron. Some flavored vodkas can taste synthetic so be mindful of that.

How to Make a Lemon Drop Martini

Rim the glass first. Run a lemon wedge around the edge, then dip it in a little granulated sugar.

Pop the glass in the freezer to chill while you mix the drink.

Martini glass rim being dipped in sugar for a lemon cocktail.

Vodka being poured into a mason jar with ice and sliced lemons nearby.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. No shaker? A mason jar with a tight lid works just as well. I have both and reach for the jar more often than not.

Shake for several seconds to combine the ingredients.

Strain the drink into your chilled glass. Add a lemon slice or twist, and enjoy right away.

Simple syrup being added to a mason jar with lemon juice and ice.

Lemon juice being poured into a mason jar with ice and vodka.

How to Make Simple Syrup

I keep a jar of simple syrup in the fridge all the time so it’s ready whenever we want to make our favorite cocktail recipes.

Add equal parts sugar and water to a small pot. I use one cup of each but you can use more or less depending on need.

Warm it over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Don’t let it boil.

Let it cool, then pour it into a jar. This makes way more than you’ll use in one drink, so save the rest for next time.

You can grab a bottle at the store too, but I think the homemade version tastes cleaner.

Pale yellow lemon drop cocktail served in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Storage

This drink tastes best fresh, right after you shake it. But you can prep it ahead of time.

To make it ahead, stir the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup together in a pitcher and chill it for up to a day. Give it a stir and pour over fresh ice, or shake it by the glass before serving.

Store leftover simple syrup in a sealed jar in the fridge. It lasts about 3 to 4 weeks. If it starts to turn cloudy or have an “off” smell, then it’s time to toss it.

Make a Big Batch for a Crowd

For a pitcher that serves four, use one cup vodka, two-thirds cup lemon juice, and a half cup simple syrup. I always mix a small batch first to taste, then scale up.

Simple syrup keeps in the fridge for up to a month.