This sweet and tart Lemon Drop Dazzler is made with vodka, fresh lemon juice, and sparkling water. Light and refreshing like a with all the bright lemon flavor you love!

Lemon Drop Dazzler

Lemons always brighten my day! The health benefits of lemons are numerous but quite frankly I just love the smell and color! It’s even Feng Shui to have a bowl in your house with citrus.

There is some argument as to which citrus (orange, lemon, lime) and how many (7,9) so you might as well get at least ten oranges, limes, and lemons.

If you can’t figure out how many to have, just keep more than the maximum on hand and use any extra for cocktails!

Aside from Feng Shui and other health benefits, lemons are also perfect for cocktails. Last year I made a series of 3 ingredient cocktails which included a Limoncello Lady.

This fun and bubbly beverage is made of limoncello, prosecco, and lemonade for all the lemon goodness you like! One of my other favorite lemon cocktails is a throwback to my college days. The Lemon Drop.

More precisely, the lemon drop shot. I drank wayyyyyy toooooo many of these acting like I was cool in a college bar and learned, not quickly enough, that sipping cocktails is better for me than doing numerous strong shots.

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Two Ways to Enjoy a Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop Martini
Lemon Drop Shot

Let’s start with the shot because that is what I started with in college. What exactly is in a lemon drop?

Ingredients Needed

Lemon Flavored Vodka
Lemon Juice
Sugar on the rim of the shot glass
Lemon Wedge for sucking on after the shot is taken

Make these fun shots in large quantities in a cocktail shaker and pour into multiple shot glasses so you and all your friends can partake together.

There isn’t any water in these shots so make sure you hydrate between shots if you plan on taking more than one.

Lemon Sugar on the rim is best for the Lemon Drop Dazzler

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How to make a Lemon Drop Dazzler

First: Zest the lemons before you juice them. Combine the sugar and lemon zest. Juice your lemon and use the lemon to wet the rim of your glass. Dip your glass rim into the lemon zest sugar. You can make your lemon twist garnishes from the peel so nothing is wasted.

Second: In a cocktail shaker, add the lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup. Shake to mix.

Third: Fill the garnished glasses with ice. Divide the mix between the 3 glasses.

Fourth: Top with lemon sparkling water. Garnish with lemon peel twists and enjoy!

Tapas Tips & Tricks

It’s all about the lemons! I prefer Meyer lemons because they are little sweeter and less tart but use what you have.
Use ALL parts of the lemon. I zest the lemon for the rimming sugar. I save a part unzested to make my lemon twist garnish. Then I juice the lemon after that to get the fresh juice for the cocktail.
Use a plain vodka, not a lemon one because the lemon in the vodka (unless homemade) can interfere with the fresh lemon juice and zest.
Use a simple syrup that is unflavored for the same reason or use one that is spicy like a jalapeño simple syrup because it enhances the lemon flavor and not the acidity.
Use a good juicer to extract all the juice and reduce the number of lemons you have to use.
Shake your ingredients (minus the sparkling water) in a cocktail shaker to blend completely!
A pretty glass is best!

Garnish the Lemon Drop Dazzler with a few lemon twists

For my Lemon Drop Dazzler, I will keep the spirit of the martini going but only in my choice of glass.

A stemless martini glass is a great way to serve this beverage but if you are sipping it down by the pool you might want to opt for a larger, sturdier, and maybe shatter-proof drinking vessel.

I love my Yeti cup for this to keep it cool but also because it holds 2 of them:)

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

Sparkling Lemon Drop Dazzler Pinterest Image

My Lemon Drop Dazzler is perfect for reminiscing about college years, sipping a bright cocktail with less sugar, or refreshing you poolside with all the bubbles!