A lemon drop martini is a bright balance of sweet and tart, and adding lavender syrup gives it a delicate floral note. The result is an elegant lavender lemon drop that’s impressive enough for a dinner party yet quick and simple to make any evening.
The cocktail’s pale pink hue comes from natural pigments in homemade lavender simple syrup. Lavender contains anthocyanin, a pigment that shifts color with pH; when acidic lemon juice is added to the purple syrup, the drink becomes a soft pink. The same effect appears in other lavender drinks such as lavender mojitos and color-changing lavender lemonade.
Ingredients for Lavender Lemon Drop
The classic lemon drop uses vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. For this lavender version, simply swap the simple syrup for lavender syrup and optionally use vanilla vodka for extra warmth. Notes and substitutions are listed below.
- Vanilla vodka — or plain vodka. Vanilla vodka adds a subtle sweetness but plain vodka works fine.
- Fresh lemon juice — about 1 lemon (bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch, but fresh gives the best flavor and allows you to make a lemon twist).
- Lavender simple syrup — homemade lavender simple syrup works best for flavor and the natural color change; quality store-bought lavender syrup can be used if needed.
- Garnish — a lemon twist and a sprig of lavender (optional sugar rim).
Quick Tips for Prepping Lavender Lemon Martini
This cocktail is straightforward: combine vodka, lemon juice, and lavender syrup in a shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a coupe or martini glass. A few tips to get the best result:
- Rim the glass with sugar if you like a sweeter finish, though the lavender version often doesn’t need it.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest citrus flavor and to create a lemon twist for garnish.
- Homemade lavender syrup made with quality lavender buds often tints blue or purple and will turn pink when mixed with lemon juice due to anthocyanins. Store-bought syrups may not show the same color change.
- Shake the cocktail rather than stirring to properly combine the vodka and lemon juice, which have different densities.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
This is part of a series of lavender cocktails. If you like this lavender lemon drop, try other floral drinks such as a lavender old fashioned, lavender bee’s knees, lavender mojito, or lavender lemonade. Lavender also pairs beautifully in desserts like lavender madeleines, lavender chocolate chip cookies, and lemon lavender macarons.
Dish Cleanup: Piece of Cake
Cleanup is minimal for this recipe. Expect a rating of 1 on a simple scale—just a shaker, a jigger, a knife, and a cutting board if you make a lemon twist. A shaker with an integrated jigger can shave off one extra dish.
Lavender Lemon Martini Recipe
If you make this lavender lemon drop and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review to help others.
Lavender Lemon Drop
Ingredients
- 1½ oz (45 ml) vanilla vodka or plain vodka
- 1½ oz (45 ml) lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 1 oz (30 ml) lavender simple syrup
- Ice, for shaking
- Lavender sprig or lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vanilla or plain vodka, lemon juice, and lavender syrup.
- Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Add a sugar rim if desired.
- Garnish with a sprig of lavender and/or a lemon twist.
Notes
If you don’t have vanilla vodka, plain vodka is perfectly fine. I like French super-blue lavender for making syrup because it tints the syrup blue and then turns light pink when lemon juice is added.
Nutrition
| Calories: 150 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 18 g
| Sugar: 16 g
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