Lemon Drop (or Lemon Drop Martini) is very popular drink. Google gave me links to millions of pages referred to this recipe.

My choice is the CocktailDB recipe, nice drink without vermouth, triple sec or bitters. I’m not an expert in mixology history but CocktailDB tells me that this Lemon Drop is taken from “The Joy of Mixology” by Gary Regan; New York: Clarkson Potter; 2003.

This is the second reason why I wanted to make Lemon Drop. The first one is my new citrus tinctures as well as my intention to use it in some recipes.

About tinctures in detail.

The first one is made according to this recipe.

I took the zest of one red grapefruit and one lime and fresh ginger, about 5 grams, all cut into pieces. Then placed it in a jar with tight cover, added 200 ml of good vodka and steeped for a week shaking every day. After seven days I strained and filtered the tincture then bottled it and let rest for two or three weeks

The difference is in reduced amount of vodka and longer steep period because I wanted to make concentrated tinctures.

The second tincture was orange. The recipe is similar to first one.

I took the zest of two big oranges, cut it and place in oven with 100° C temperature for 30 minutes. Then placed dried zest in a jar with tight cover, added 200 ml vodka and steeped for a week shaking every day. After seven days I strained and filtered the tincture then bottled it and let rest for two or three weeks.

After 20 days I’ve got two transparent aromatic tinctures – sweet orange and tart and sour grapefruit-lime. Both tinctures are very saturated, rich in citrus essential oils.

Click to enlarge

Each tincture should be diluted with vodka but I decided to use it concentrated and to blend them in such proportion: two parts of grapefruit-lime tincture for one part of orange tincture.

Lemon Drop

• 60 ml citrus tinctures blend (as written above),
• 30 ml fresh lemon juice
• 15 ml simple syrup.

Shake it all with ice and serve in cocktail glass with sugar rim.

The first sip was very special – bright sour and sweet palate and smooth mouthfeel with fresh nose of lemon and lime.

Bitter aftertaste is full of grapefruit notes with touch of orange zest. Warm tart finish has pleasant orange and lemon flavour.

This Lemon Drop is outstanding cocktail. Luxury citrus drink with strong character.

I’m a perfectionist and going to improve it: my new tangerine tincture is all but ready and I want to blend it with current citrus blend. Hope it will be something special.

I’ll be back with new drinks if my hopes about this blend come true.