Lemon Drop

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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."

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Recipe