Limoncello Martini is a flavorful citrus-y twist on the classic Lemon Drop Martini. Its perfectly balanced sweet & sour flavor makes it a dream afternoon cocktail.
During summer time, Limoncello Martini is great to enjoy before dinner, as an aperitivo. Its intense citrus flavor & aroma are refreshing and thirst quenching.
During cold month it make a perfect after dinner cocktail to refresh your palette and help with digestion. Made with only 3 main ingredients, it’s a real crowd-pleaser that's impossible to resist.
Save this recipe for the next time you'll have your friends over or for that moment when you simply want to indulge yourself with a delicious fancy drink that’s ready in a snap of a finger.
Table Of Contents
Ingredients
- In this Lemon Drop Martini variation, Limoncello, the famous Italian lemon liqueur, is the star of the show.
It adds a unique, delicious citrus-y twist to the classic cocktail.
To make this Lemon Drop Martini with Limoncello you can use a quality store-bought version, or better yet, make your own the most delicious homemade Limoncello using this 3-ingredent step-by-step Limoncello recipe. - Just like with classic Lemon Drop Martini, vodka is another base spirit for this cocktail. It balances the flavors of the other ingredients and adds a boozy kick to the drink.
- You’ll also need some freshly squeezed lemon juice, which brings a distinctive tangy flavor and color to the cocktail. Plus, you get the added bonus of getting some Vitamin C!
- Of course, you'll need plenty of ice to fill ⅔ of the cocktail shaker for each martini.
How To Make With Pictures
Step 1: Prepare martini glass by lightly rubbing the rim with the fleshy wet part of a cut lemon, then dip the moistened rim of the glass into the sugar poured on a plate.
Step 2: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the limoncello, vodka and freshly squeezed lemon juice into the shaker.
Step 3: Shake vigorously until combined then pour into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Top Tips For The Perfect Limoncello Martini
- Use high-quality, unflavored vodka. It make a huge difference, especially in a cocktail that has very few ingredients.
- Chill martini glasses in advance. The Lemon Drop Martini with Limoncello is best served cold. Thus, chilling glasses before serving the cocktail is a key step in its preparation, as it helps to maintain the temperature and level up the flavor and overall experience of the drink.
- Rim the glasses with granulated sugar. This makes the drink visually appealing and adds an extra touch of sweetness to complement the sour lemon.
- Lemon twists or lemon wheels traditionally garnish the Lemon Drop Martini. Some variations add fresh mint leaves, which add extra aroma and a hint of flavor. You can also grab a handful of mint leaves, squeeze them between your fingers to release their oils, and put them in the shaker along with other ingredients to have more distinct mint flavor.
How To Make It Your Own
You can adjust this Limoncello Martini recipe to your taste by playing with slightly different amounts of each ingredient.
- Add up lemon juice if you prefer it tarter.vCompared to classic Lemon Drop, this Limoncello Martini doesn’t require the use of simple syrup. However, if you like your Martini much sweeter and less alcoholic, a splash of simple syrup will do just the thing.
- Make your own simple syrup quickly by adding equal amounts of water and sugar (by volume) to a saucepan, bring it to a boil making sure all sugar is dissolved. Let cool completely before use.
Fun Facts
The Lemon Drop Martini was created in the 1970s by a bartender named Norman Jay Hobday. Hobday worked at a popular San Francisco bar called Henry Africa's, which was known for its innovative and unique cocktails.
The bar was a pioneer in the fern bar movement - a type of American bar designed to make women feel at home using sugary drinks and homey decorations.
Inspiration for the Lemon Drop Martini is said to have come from the classic lemon drop candy, the hard, lemon-flavored treat that had become a recognizable classic in the world of confections since it’s invention in the 1800s.
Despite its name, the Lemon Drop Martini doesn't contain any Martini vermouth at all. The term actually refers to the glass it's served in - a martini glass with a v-shaped cup and a long stem.
More Delicious Citrusy Drinks
Try Limoncello Spritz - an Italian aperitif staple.
Or one of the 12 Limoncello Cocktails - you can make them at home with minimal ingredients and no special equipment whatsoever.
For refreshing, non-alcoholic version try Limonata - citrusy and bubbly Italian lemonade.
Full Recipe
Limoncello Martini (Lemon Drop Martini With Limoncello)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces limoncello
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ice for shaker
- lemon slice for garnishing
- sugar for rim
Instructions
- Prepare martini glass by lightly rubbing the rim with the fleshy wet part of a cut lemon, then dip the moistened rim of the glass into the sugar poured on a plate.
- Fill ⅔ of a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour the limoncello, vodka and freshly squeezed lemon juice into the shaker.
- Shake vigorously until combined then pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cheers & Salute!
Auntie Doni says
Oohhh! That's just a lovely cocktail! I used freshly squeezed Meyer Lemon juice and a bit of the zest, just lovely!!! Thank you so much for the idea Svitlana!!!
Svitlana says
A good Limoncello Martini is sometimes all we need 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
Bob says
I have been making Lemon Drop Martinis for years but I add 1 oz. lemon juice and a splash of simple syrup with the lemon-cello, gives it a really nice lemon taste. But I think you recipe is good as well, most people like the slightly more sweet flavor though.