Lemon Drop Shot

Published on
Jump to Recipe

Tasting just like lemon drop candy, the vodka-based Lemon Drop Shot is a recipe that includes lemon sugar, lemon juice, and simple syrup that’s perfect for partying! Sweet, tart, and refreshing.

Two hands holding lemon drop shots and cheering this recipe

One of my favorite, all-time simple and easy shot recipes is the Lemon Drop Shot. It’s sweet and sour, with such a quick recipe to follow. Made with vodka and lemon juice, lemon drop shots are sure to be a hit at your next party!

If you’re looking to upgrade this recipe from a shot to a full-size cocktail, be sure to check out my instructions for making the Best Lemon Drop Martini.

What’s in a Lemon Drop Shot

Lemon Drop shot ingredients include homemade lemon sugar, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Here are a few tips to make this recipe even better!

  • Lemon sugar or sugar
  • Vodka – use your favorite, high-quality vodka.
  • Fresh lemon juice – you can use bottled, but I recommend freshly squeezed for the best flavor.
  • Simple syrup – if you’re fresh out of simple syrup, just stir together equal parts sugar and water over a stovetop until dissolved to make simple syrup.
  • Garnish: 2 lemon wedges
Two photos showing how to make a lemon drop shot - straining shot mixture into a sugared rim shot glass

How to Make a Lemon Drop Shot

How do you make a lemon drop shot, anyway? Well, it’s super simple!

  1. Wet the edge of a shot glass with a lemon slice. Then, dip the wet edge into a shallow, rimmed plate full of lemon sugar or cocktail sugar.
  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Cover and shake until chilled.
  3. Strain into shot glass. Serve with a sugared lemon wedge. Enjoy!
Two photos showing How to Make this vodka recipe - adding a sugared wedge

How to Serve Lemon Drop Shots

Start with a sugared rim on each of your shot glasses. Then, dip the wet sides of a lemon slice into sugar. Cut a seam in the middle of each wedge and slide it onto each glass as garnish. Take the shot, then bite and suck on the sugared lemon wedge.

Lemon Drop Shot Pitcher – Lemon Drop Shots for a Group

My recipe for lemon drop shots calls for 2 parts vodka, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part simple syrup. Use the following as a guide on making lemon drop shots for a crowd, stirring all ingredients together in a pitcher filled with ice:

  • Make sure to leave room for ice in each pitcher. So, for 32 oz of lemon drop shot, use a 48oz pitcher, and so forth.
  • 32 oz: 16 oz vodka, 8 oz lemon juice, 8 oz simple syrup
  • 48 oz: 24 oz vodka, 12 oz lemon juice, 12 oz simple syrup
  • 60 oz: 30 oz vodka, 15 oz lemon juice, 15 oz simple syrup
A Lemon Drop Shot served with a sugared rim and a lemon wedge

Variations

  • Blueberry Lemon Drop Shot: use blueberry flavored vodka and blueberry simple syrup.
  • Flavor Infusions: use honey syrup in place of simple syrup for a sweet, warm twist. Or, use lavender-infused simple syrup for a fancy one.
  • Raspberry Lemon Drop Shot: use raspberry flavored vodka and raspberry simple syrup. You can also muddle a few raspberries in the cocktail shaker before adding in the lemon juice, etc., then strain into the shot glass.

Tools You Need

Fun Drink Recipes

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
two hands clinking shot glasses full of lemon drop shots

Lemon Drop Shot

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

Print Recipe

Description

Tasting like lemon drop candy, the vodka-based Lemon Drop Shot is a recipe that includes lemon sugar, lemon juice, and simple syrup that’s perfect for partying! Sweet, tart, and refreshing.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • Lemon sugar or sugar
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • Garnish: 2 lemon wedges

Instructions

  1. Run a lemon slice along the rim of a 2 oz shot glass. Dip the wet rim in lemon sugar or sugar. Repeat for the second glass. Set shot glasses aside.
  2. Add vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake until very chilled.
  3. Strain into shot glasses. Garnish with a sugared lemon wedge. Enjoy!

Equipment

Notes

Honey Lemon Drop: make this honeyed variation on the lemon drop shot by using honey syrup instead of simple syrup.

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Drinks, Cocktails
  • Method: Chill
  • Cuisine: American

This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to make a small commission for my referral, at no additional cost to you.

Tart Drink Recipes

Like this recipe? Share it with friends!

Did you make this recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!

It’s nice to meet you! Erik and I love sharing easy recipes that are fun & approachable. I love cozy movies, chocolate, big hugs, and being out at sea.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

8 Comments

  3. Simple and delicious! I’ve been wanting to make these at home and this post made it simple to follow. Thanks for sharing!



    Reply