The Lemon Drop is very popular among people who enjoy sweet vodka-based cocktails. It has a colorful history befitting its colorful appearance. It can also be made in several ways with various ingredients. This drink can also be served and consumed in two very different ways. Thankfully, it is not too difficult to make tasty Lemon Drops yourself. Read on to learn more about making and drinking the Lemon Drop cocktail.
The History of the Lemon Drop Drink
The Lemon Drop cocktail was first developed in the 1970s by a man named Norman Jay Hobday. Hobday was the founder and owner of a popular bar in San Francisco called Henry’s Africa. The bar catered to an upscale clientele that enjoyed vodka-based cocktails, and Hobday wanted to create a new drink for those patrons.
The Lemon Drop was an immediate hit at Henry’s Africa. Unsurprisingly, competing bars in San Francisco got wind of the hot new drink at Henry’s Africa. They quickly started serving their own Lemon Drops, and the popularity of the drink grew. Before long, bars across the country were serving them.
The Lemon Drop has been popular since the 1970s. It became even more popular in the mid-2000s when Oprah Winfrey featured it on her show. The drink can now be found in almost every upscale bar in America.
Serving the Lemon Drop as a Cocktail
The Lemon Drop can be served as either a cocktail or as a shot. The drink was originally intended to be a cocktail, but has been at least as popular as a shot since the 1990s. While the recipe is the same, there are a few differences between Lemon Drops served as cocktails and the drink served as a shot.
Of course, Lemon Drops served as cocktails are consumed from cocktail glasses and shots from shot glasses. The cocktail version usually comes in at 2,5 or 3 ounces, while the shot version is around 2 ounces. Also, the shots are gulped down while the cocktails are sipped.
Ingredients in a Vodka Lemon Drop
The base spirit of the Lemon Drop is vodka, which can be either citrus-flavored vodka or normal vodka. The Lemon Drop is chilled over ice but served straight up. The full ingredients list includes:
- 1/4 part simple syrup
- A lemon wedge
- 2/3 part citron vodka
- 1/2 part lemon juice
Lemon Drops are often served in glasses with sugared rims. This is especially common for Lemon Drops served in shot glasses.
How to Make Delicious Lemon Drops
You will need a shaker to make a Lemon Drop. First, add ice cubs to the shaker. Next, put all the ingredients in the correct amounts. Shake it up and strain it into a chilled martini glass. If you want, you can add sugar around the rim of the glass. Garnish with the lemon wedge.
The cold temperature is very important for the flavor of this drink. Be sure to consume your Lemon Drop while it is still cold. Otherwise, the flavors may become muddled together.
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