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Cocktail History
The Lemon Drop is a classic cocktail that was created by Norman Jay Hobday in the 1970s at Henry Africa’s in San Francisco, California. It is is traditionally made with a simple mixture of vodka, citrus, and simple syrup, and it was most likely named after the lemon drop candy because of its sweet-tart flavor.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. I used Belvedere Vodka.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. I used Cointreau.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I used this stovetop recipe.
Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Pale yellow color
• Aroma: Bright citrus
• Taste: Refreshingly tart lemon flavor
• Finish: Slight alcohol burn masked by citrus
Kendall’s Take: “When I first started ordering craft cocktails, my go-to at bars quickly became the classic Cosmopolitan because, like most women since it was seen on Sex & The City in the ’90s, I thought it was tart and delicious. But one time when I was out, a local bartender got my order wrong and served me a Lemon Drop instead. It’s another common fruity recipe for drinkers like me, and it immediately took over the top spot on my list of favorites. I still love it to this day and come back to it occasionally for its sweet and simple flavor profile.”
Recipe
Lemon Drop
Description
The Lemon Drop is a classic cocktail that was created by Norman Jay Hobday in the 1970s at Henry Africa’s in San Francisco, California. It is is traditionally made with a simple mixture of vodka, citrus, and simple syrup, and it was most likely named after the lemon drop candy because of its sweet-tart flavor.
Ingredients
Method
Add vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and triple sec to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
