Made with cold-pressed lemon juice and honey instead of refined sugar, this lemon drop cocktail is delightfully tart and sweet.
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This Honey Lemon Drop Martini can be summed up in four words: sweet, tart, tasty and intoxicating.
What more can you ask for in a cocktail beverage?

Why We Love This Honey Lemon Drop Martini
Besides the taste, this drink has a huge advantage over most: no refined sugar (when you make without the optional lemon sugar rim garnish).
That’s right. Unlike bar-made drinks containing stuff like simple syrup, the sweetness in this cold-pressed cocktail is provided by honey.
We suspect you don’t make drinks like this for health benefits, but it’s worth noting what lemon has to offer. Lemon is a natural antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory and an immune system-booster that’s rich in vitamin C. It might just be the healthiest ingredient on the other side of the bar.

What You Need to Make This Recipe
Besides the ingredients (which are listed below), you’ll need the following:
- juicer (manual citrus juicer/squeezer can be used)
- jigger
- shaker
- strainer
- martini glass
Let’s dive right in.

Equipment note: We used the M-1 commercial juice press to make this recipe, but you can use pretty much any type of juicer. Just keep in mind that the quality will always be higher when using a juice press.
Learn more about the industry-leading commercial juicers we use to make our recipes.
Ingredients
Martini
quality vodka | 2 oz | 57 g | double shot |
triple sec | 3/4 oz | 85 g | three quarters of a shot |
lemon juice | 1/2 oz | 28 g | one tablespoon |
honey syrup | 3/4 oz | 85 g | one and a half tablespoons |
lemon sugar | glass rim garnish (optional) | ||
ice | for shaking |
Honey Syrup
honey | 1 cup | we used raw honey | |
water | 1 cup | filtered |
Lemon Sugar (Optional garnish)
sugar | 1/2 cup | granulated | |
lemon zest | 1/4 cup | from one lemon |
Directions
Make Honey Syrup
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In a small saucepan, combine the honey and water over medium heat and stir until the honey is dissolved.
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Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
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Pour syrup into a glass jar and cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Make Lemon Sugar (Optional garnish)
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Add sugar to a plate then rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers until tinted yellow and fragrant.
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Using a lemon wedge, moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass, turn the glass upside down and twist into the lemon sugar. Set aside.
Make Martini
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Add vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, honey syrup and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds or until very cold.
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Strain into the martini glass and serve right away.
Pro Tips
For the best result, use a quality vodka and serve the martini very cold.
If you plan to make the lemon sugar, remove the zest from the lemon before juicing them for the martini.
Store remaining honey syrup in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
3 Comments
by linh
by Sara
I hate to leave a 3 star review because I love Goodnature BUT… this recipe was awful for me. Didn’t taste like a lemon drop at all. This being one of my favorite drinks I’m going to keep trying my own recipes and hopefully figure out what works for me.
Reply by Robin Frey
Sorry to hear that Sara! I hope you figure out a recipe that your taste buds love 🙂