The Lemon Drop Martini (or just Lemon Drop) is a delicious modern spin on the vodka martini that was created here in SF in the 70s. Often served as a dessert drink, it is a great choice whenever you are craving some lemony sweetness. It is also easily customized to your taste.

Made of vodka, limoncello (a sweet, Italian liqueur), lemon juice, and simple syrup, you coat the rim of the glass with lemon and dust it with granulated sugar. It is served with a twist.

Making the lemon twist
An easy way to make a lemon twist is with a carrot peeler. With the right touch, you can peel a strip and avoid the pith. Then just roll the peel into a tight spiral and gently squeeze it. The twist will loosen up once you release it. To store, keep it in a glass of ice water to maintain the spiral.

The Lemon Drop Martini
Adapted from The Spruce Eats
Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients
For the rim
Granulated sugar
Lemon wedge

For the martini
2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce limoncello
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 to 3/4 ounce simple syrup, to taste

For the garnish
Lemon twist

Directions
Rim the cocktail glass
Place the sugar on a small plate. Wipe a lemon wedge around the edge of the glass to wet the surface, then dip it into the sugar. Set aside to dry while you mix the drink.

Mix the Lemon Drop
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vodka, limoncello, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Shake well and strain into the rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.

How to riff on The Lemon Drop Martini
For starters, you can always adjust the sweetness to taste with more or less simple syrup.

Some ideas for variations on this cocktail are using a citrus-flavored vodka, adding a fruit syrup or floral syrup in place of the simple syrup, or replacing most of the simple syrup with Cointreau (for orange undertones).

How to make 1:1 Simple syrup
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Directions
Add equal parts sugar and hot boiled water to a jar with a tightly-fitting lid like a canning jar. Seal the jar and using a pot holder, shake until the sugar is dissolved.

Allow the simple syrup to cool before using it. The simple syrup can be stored for several weeks in the fridge.