Not going to lie, it’s tricky coming up with cocktails for The Cocktail Issue. There is so much pressure to come up with something amazing for such a special issue. But I think we’ve done it. Well, at least for my taste we’ve done it!

I have discovered more and more, that lemon in cocktails or food has to be one of my favourite flavours. It’s a magical ingredient really, how it transforms from sweet to savoury dishes and goes with, well, just about everything. But you know where the humble lemon really shines? In cocktails!

So today, consider this an ode to the lemon, as we create the classic Lemon Drop cocktail.

The Lemon Drop is just such a simple, delicious, tart cocktail that really balances sweet and sour, so I knew I had to make this one a star of the month of cocktails! It has just four ingredients and chances are they are all things you have at home, so this one wins on all fronts.

Ingredients

  • 45 ml vodka
  • 30ml lemon juice
  • 15ml simple syrup
  • 15ml triple sec or Cointreau

Method:

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and triple sec (or Cointreau) with ice.
  2. Shake until chilled and well combined.
  3. Strain into your chilled glass.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist.