Sweet and Tart Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini

Sharing is caring!

This weekend temps are the first to finally hit the 70's and I have a new friend coming over for dinner. Warm weather entertaining is finally back! Nothing better, honey.

While I'm getting the menu finalized, one thing is for sure: homemade, tangy and sweet strawberry lemon drops will be the signature cocktail.

Lemon drops are one of my favorite party cocktails: they're simple, they're a crowd favorite that's easy to turn into a big batch pitcher, and everyone is impressed by homemade cocktails.

Whenever I need summer drink ideas, it's at the top of my list. So easy and the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and boozy.

🍓Delicious Strawberry Lemon Drop Martinis

Making this refreshing cocktail is a breeze: I blend up a fresh strawberry purée, squeeze some fresh lemon juice, add a little limoncello so we get that lemon flavor and sweetness (to compliment tartness from the juice), and some vodka. 

I like using strawberry puree simply because it gives a stronger strawberry flavor than a strawberry simple syrup. Same with the limoncello, it gives that lemon flavor, not just tang.

Simple, easy, amazing. It's like a boozy strawberry lemonade! Just citrusy, sweet, a delicious cocktail to sip on girls night or for summer entertaining.

Ingredients Needed

Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Strawberries - if you're smack dab in the middle of strawberry season then use all those good, juicy strawberries and support your local farms! Otherwise, thawed frozen strawberries work perfectly.
• Fresh Lemons - use fresh squeezed lemons every time! The bottled stuff doesn't have the sweeter notes that fresh lemons do, it's so much more sour!
• Limoncello - lemon drops are almost always made with a sweeter liqueur, like orange liqueur, or triple sec. I swapped it with limoncello, which is kinda like a very sweet lemon vodka liqueur.
• Vodka - use your favorite! You can also use a flavored one. I would go with a strawberry vodka or citrus vodka since we have the limoncello addition.
• Sugar and Freeze-Dried Strawberries - the dried strawberries are optional, but I think a strawberry-sugar rim just takes it over the top and it's easy to do, so why not?

How to Make a Strawberry Lemon Drop Cocktail

Step 1 | Make the Strawberry Puree. Blend the strawberries and sugar in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove the strawberry seeds and set aside.

Step 2 | Rim cocktail glasses with sugar. Crush up the freeze-dried strawberries, mix them with the sugar on a shallow dish and let's get to the garnishing! Rim the martini glasses with lemon juice, then dip the rim into the strawberry sugar. Make sure to get all over the rim and up the sides a bit, even.

Step 3 | Shake up the cocktail! In your cocktail shaker, add the puree, ice cubes, the limoncello and vodka, and the lemon juice. Shake really well for about 15 seconds, until the shaker is nice and cold.

Step 4 | Pour the cocktail into your prepared martini glasses and drink cold.

Chef's Tips + Recipe Variations

• Chill the martini glasses until ready to garnish and serve.
• You can muddle the strawberries and sugar in the cocktail shaker if you're only making one or two drinks. Use a cocktail sieve (basically a mini mesh sieve) to strain those seeds out of the cocktail as you pour into your glasses.
• Swap the vodka for tequila for a margarita twist on the classic lemon drop martini.
• Make strawberry syrup if you're not a fan of purees. Strawberry simple syrup takes about 20 minutes to simmer, but it's just as easy to make as puree.
• Swap the sugared rim for another classic garnish like a fresh strawberry on a cocktail skewer or an easy lemon twist.

Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini with Vodka

By: Eden Westbrook

Be the first to rate this recipe!

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

My sweet-tart strawberry lemon drop martini recipe is one refreshing summer drink you'll want for all your entertaining this season! It's a variation on the classic lemon drop -- a bright and vibrant drink with fresh strawberries, delicious limoncello, vodka, and a lovely strawberry-sugar rim garnish.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

2 lemon drop martinis

Rate this Recipe Print Pin

Ingredients 

• ▢ ½ cup strawberries, hulled
• ▢ 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• ▢ crushed freeze dried strawberries, (optional) for garnish
• ▢ 2 tablespoon granulated sugar, garnish
• ▢ Ice
• ▢ 4 ounces vodka
• ▢ 2 ounce limoncello
• ▢ 2 ounce fresh lemon juice, strained

Instructions 

Make Strawberry Puree

• Blend the strawberries and sugar together in a food processor or blender until smooth. Strain into a container through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Set aside.
  ½ cup strawberries, 2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Make Sugar Rim Garnish

• Mix the freeze dried strawberries and sugar together on a shallow dish or small plate. Rub a lemon wedge around the edges of two chilled martini glasses, then dip and swirl the martini glasses in the strawberry sugar mixture to coat the rims. Set aside.
  crushed freeze dried strawberries, 2 tablespoon granulated sugar

Make the Strawberry Lemon Drop Cocktails

• In your cocktail shaker, add the ice, limoncello, 3 ounces of strawberry puree, vodka, and lemon juice. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds, until the shaker is very cold.
  Ice, 4 ounces vodka, 2 ounce limoncello, 2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• Strain the cocktail into your prepared martini glasses and serve cold.

Last step!Be sure to snap a pic and share on Instagram #sweetteaandthyme and tag me at @sweet_tea_thyme so we can all see!

Recipe Notes

Big Batch Pitcher: Strawberry Lemon Drop (64 ounces)

• 16 oz vodka 
• 8 oz limoncello
• 8 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 12 oz fresh strawberry purée
• 8 oz cold water 
• Ice, for serving
• Sugar, for rimming glasses
• Fresh strawberries and lemon slices, for garnish

Make the Fresh Strawberry Purée:

1. In a blender, combine about 2½ cups fresh strawberries (hulled and halved) and 3 tablespoons sugar.
2. Blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp. You should have about 1½ cups (12 oz) of smooth purée.

Mix the Cocktail in the Pitcher:

1. In a large pitcher, combine vodka, limoncello, fresh lemon juice, strawberry purée, and cold water.
2. Stir gently to fully combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness to your liking, if necessary.

Prepare Glasses:

1. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of each martini glass, then dip into sugar to coat evenly.
2. Chill glasses in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve.

Serve the Cocktail:

1. Stir the cocktail again in the pitcher to ensure it's well mixed.
2. Pour into prepared glasses.
3. Garnish each glass with a fresh strawberry and lemon slice.

 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 martini, Calories: 267kcal (13%), Carbohydrates: 20g (7%), Protein: 0.3g (1%), Fat: 0.2g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 85mg (2%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 17g (19%), Vitamin A: 6IU, Vitamin C: 32mg (39%), Calcium: 8mg (1%), Iron: 0.2mg (1%)