Lemon Drop Shot Recipe
Tart and sweet, this Lemon Drop Shots recipe is the ultimate citrusy and vibrant shot to serve at parties!
If you’ve had a Lemon Drop shot before, you’ll know that it’s like drinking a chilled Lemonhead candy or Sparkling Mint Meyer Lemonade.
They’re the ultimately refreshing flavor bomb shot and pair well with lemon cupcakes.
However, unlike other Lemon Drop Shots recipes you may have tried, ours is a bit different.
It’s more full of fresh citrus flavors and a well balanced sweetness due to a slightly different ingredient than usually seen.
Lemon Concentrate: The Secret to the Perfect Bright Lemon Flavor
Most lemon drop recipes call for “lemon juice”
But after trying that route, we found it to be a bit “meh”
So our recipe calls for lemon concentrate, which is the secret to achieving the most amazing intense lemon flavor.
Don’t worry! It’s easy extra steps without complicated methods.
To make a lemon concentrate, you only need organic lemons, a bit of water, a blender, and a fine-mesh strainer.
So instead of just using the lemon for juice, we use the whole lemon, even the peel.
This is why we recommend using organic lemons.
Since we are using the whole fruit, organic lemons typically have a stronger aromatic essential oils in tang and sweetness.
How to Make a Lemon Concentrate:
1 — Wash the lemon to remove any dirt and cut into quarters. (One lemon is good for about 5-6 shots, but it can vary depending on the size of your lemon).
2 — Put it in a blender or food processor, and add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help it blend.
3 — Blend for 5 minutes until a smooth consistency is achieved.
4 — Strain the mixture into a fine mesh strainer to eliminate the pulp and extract only the juice and essential oils.
Store the lemon concentrate in a crystal jar in the fridge for no more then 5-6 days.
Ingredients Needed to Make a Lemon Drop Shot
Lemon concentrate — Or fresh lemon juice
Water
Vodka
Simple syrup — Store bought or you can easily make your own homemade simple syrup
Granulated white sugar — For the shot and sugar rim
Lemon zest — Optional for the rim
How to Make a Lemon Drop Shot
To make the sugar rim and garnish:
1 — Zest one lemon. Add the zest to a small bowl and mix with the sugar.
2 — Rub the lemon around the to rim of a shot glass. This will help the lemon-sugar mixture stick better.
3 — Dip the rim of the shot glass into the lemon sugar mixture.
4 — Cut another lemon into thin slices and then into triangles. Make a small slit into the lemon slices so that it can sit on the brim of the glass. Set aside for the garnish.
To make the shot:
1 — In a cocktail shaker filled 3/4 with ice, add the vodka, concentrated lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2 — Shake vigorously for 1 minute or until chilled.
3 — Pour the mix the shot glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Recipe Notes and Tips
— Other interesting variations include using lime, mandarin orange, or grapefruit. You can also simply just use lemon juice instead of the lemon concentrate.
— The lemon concentrate can be pre-made in advance and stored in the fridge.
— For something different, we served the shots out of small jam jars.
More Lemon Cocktails
- Sparkling Mint Meyer Lemonade
- Pink Lemonade Cocktail
- Pear Lavender Lemonade
- Lemon Jello Shots with Edible Flowers
Lemon Drop Shot Recipe
Equipment
- Fine mesh strainer
- Measuring spoons
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Fine grater
- Small bowl or plate
- Shot glass
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon concentrate or lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Ice
For the lemon concentrate:
- 1 lemon organic if possible
- 1-2 tbsp water
Optional: For the garnish:
- 1 lemon cut into slices and then triangles
Optional :For the sugar rim:
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp white granulated sugar
Nutrition
Notes
- Store the lemon concentrate in a crystal jar in the fridge for no more then 5-6 days.
Instructions
To make the lemon concentrate:
- Wash a lemon and cut into quarters.
- Blend it with 1-2 tablespoon of water to help the lemon blend better.
- Strain the mixture into a fine mesh strainer to eliminate the pulp and extract only the juice and essential oils. Set aside.
Optional: To prep the sugar rim and garnish:
- Zest one lemon. Add 2 tablespoons of zest to a small bowl and mix with the white sugar.
- Rub the lemon around the to rim of a shot glass. This will help the lemon-sugar mixture stick better.
- Dip the rim of the shot glass into the lemon sugar mixture. Set aside.
- Cut another lemon into thin slices and then into triangles. Make a small slit into the lemon slices so that it can sit on the brim of the glass.
To make the lemon drop shot:
- In a cocktail shaker filled 3/4 with ice, add the vodka, concentrated lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake vigorously for 1 minute or until chilled.
- Pour the mix into the rimmed shot glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Don’t forget to share your Lemon Drop Shot with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here with a few desserts to go along with them.
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