These Lemon Drop Shots are sweet, tart, and ready in 5 minutes, and this batch makes 10, so the whole crowd is covered. Just three ingredients (vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and simple syrup) are shaken with ice and poured into sugar-rimmed shot glasses. If you love fruit-forward cocktails, try this spicy pineapple margarita next!
Recipe Summary: Lemon Drop Shots Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Lemon Drop Shots with Vodka
- 🕒 Ready In: 5 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 10 (but easy to scale up or down)
- 🍽 Calories: 144 per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: High-quality vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup
- 📖 Dietary Info: Make-ahead friendly, can make alcohol-free
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Tastes just like lemon drop candy! Great for gameday and all types of events, especially when paired with crowd favorites like slow-cooked birria tacos!
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Lemon drop shooters are a riff on the classic Lemon Drop Martini, which first showed up in San Francisco in the 1970s. These are my go-to for girls' nights, backyard BBQs, and any party where I want something crowd-pleasing and zero-stress to serve.
They taste just like a lemon drop candy — sweet, tart, and bright — with a smooth vodka finish that makes them dangerously easy to drink, just like this creamsicle cocktail and my Miami Vice cocktail!
After testing this with both fresh and bottled lemon juice, fresh wins every single time; it's what keeps these shots tasting clean and vibrant instead of flat and sharp.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Just 3 ingredients. Vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and simple syrup — that's it. The simple syrup dissolves completely into the shots so every sip is smooth and balanced, with zero grit at the bottom of the glass. This watermelon mimosa is another easy cocktail with a short ingredient list!
- Sweet, tart, and refreshing. These taste exactly like a lemon drop candy in shot form, with bright citrus up front, a little sweetness to round it out, and a clean vodka finish.
- Ready in 5 minutes, no bartending skills required. If you can squeeze a lemon and shake a cocktail shaker, you've got this. There's no muddling, no layering, no complicated technique — just shake, strain, and serve.
- Makes 10 shots in one batch. Most lemon drop shot recipes are written for one or two servings, which isn't super helpful when you're hosting. This recipe makes 10 standard 1.5-ounce shots in a single batch of lemon drop shots.
Ingredients
These fresh and delicious shots couldn't be easier to make! Here's what you'll need to make a great lemon drop shot:
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice. Say no to bottled, and juice those bad boys yourself. What really sets this lemon drop shot recipe apart is the freshly squeezed lemon juice! You will need 4-5 lemons for 6 ounces of juice and at least one more to use for garnish.
- Good Quality Vodka. Since this is a clean, fresh, 3-ingredient shot, you want to use a good quality, very drinkable vodka. My pick is always Stateside Vodka. Second up, Tito's or Grey Goose. High quality is key for the best shots!
- Simple syrup. Simple syrup works better than plain granulated sugar in these shots (and most cocktail recipes) because it dissolves completely and gives each shot the perfect sweet and tart balance without any grit. Save the granulated sugar for the rim. You can either make your own simple syrup, or use store-bought. To make homemade simple syrup, you'll need equal parts sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar. Once boiling. reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, and voila- you've got simple syrup.
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients with quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Once you have the basics down on how to make lemon drop shots with vodka, you can play with the recipe a bit to make it your own! Here are some great swaps and additions:
| Sugar rim ideas | Mix in a little fresh lemon zest with the granulated sugar for extra citrus punch. Swap in citrus salt for a sweet-salty contrast (think margarita vibes, but make it lemony). Make colored sugar for parties by mixing a few drops of gel food coloring into the sugar. Spread it on a plate and let it dry. |
| Vodka Swaps for More Lemon Flavor | Use citrus or lemon-flavored vodka, or even a splash of limoncello for extra lemon flavor. |
| Citrus swaps | Try Meyer lemons instead of classic lemons for a slightly sweeter flavor profile. |
| Raspberry Lemon Drop | Muddle a small handful of fresh raspberries in the bottom of your cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients, then strain well. Or, swap in raspberry vodka for an easy twist that requires zero extra work. You can do the same thing with strawberries or cranberries for a slightly different flavor profile. |
| Honey Simple Syrup | Swap the classic simple syrup for a honey simple syrup for a slightly floral, less-processed sweetness. It's made the same way — just add about 1 tablespoon of honey to the simple syrup. You can also use this same method to make all kinds of flavored simple syrups! |
| Make a Mocktail | Skip the vodka entirely and combine the lemon juice and simple syrup with sparkling water or club soda for a bright, bubbly, alcohol-free version. Start with a 1:1 ratio of lemon juice to simple syrup and top with as much sparkling water as you like. This margarita mocktail is another easy cocktail to serve at parties for guests who don't drink alcohol. |
How to Make Lemon Drop Shots
- Step 1: Rim the glasses. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of each shot and dip the rims straight down into granulated sugar.
- Step 2: Mix and serve. Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in the vodka, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. Depending on the size of your cocktail shaker, you may need to work in batches. Shake vigorously, about 10-15 seconds, until it's ice cold and mixed well. Pour into the prepared sugar-rimmed shot glasses using a strainer and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve immediately while still ice cold!
Expert Tips
- Chill your vodka first. Pop the bottle in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before you make these. Cold vodka means less ice dilution when you shake, for a better and more concentrated flavor.
- Rim the glasses right before serving. Sugar rims are best applied just before your guests arrive, not hours ahead. If the rim sits too long, the sugar absorbs moisture and gets soggy.
- Taste before you serve. Take a small sip of the mixture before you strain it into the glasses. If it's too tart, stir in a little more simple syrup, and if it's too sweet, you can add a splash of lemon juice or vodka for balance.
- Making a batch ahead of time? Store the mix, not the shots. Combine the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup in an airtight jar or pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Don't add ice until you're ready to shake and serve. When your guests arrive, shake portions with ice and strain into the sugar-rimmed glasses.
Vodka Lemon Drop Shots Recipe FAQ's
No, not really. Lemon drops are sweet and tart- like lemon drop candy, but with a smooth vodka finish. The lemon and sweetness mask the alcohol well.
No, I don't recommend it. Simple syrup works best because it blends seamlessly into the shots, with zero grit. Granulated sugar is best saved for rimming the shot glasses.
You sure can. Make the recipe as directed and strain it into a chilled sugar-rimmed martini glass. Allow about 3-4 ounces of lemon drop mixture per martini.
Yes. I use a 2:2:1 ratio of vodka, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. For example, use 12 ounces of vodka, 12 ounces of lemon juice, and 6 ounces of simple syrup to make a double batch of shots. Shake portions with ice right before serving.
Fresh lemon juice gives the cleanest, freshest flavor. Bottled lemon juice is often sharper or more bitter, so if you do decide to use it, start with slightly less lemon juice and adjust with extra simple syrup to balance the bitterness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your shots in tiny mason jars or a standard 1.5 ounce shot glass, with a lemon wedge or sugared lemon slice on the rim, or a lemon twist on top. They're best served right away while very cold. Don't skip the sugar-rimmed shot glass. It gives the shots a festive feel, while balancing the tart lemon flavor.
Pair your shots for parties with simple snacks like these fun mini-sized Korean corn dogs and easy white bean dip.
More Homemade Cocktail Recipes
If you tried this Lemon Drop Shots Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Lemon Drop Shots Recipe
Equipment
- cocktail shaker or mason jar
Ingredients
- 6 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 6 oz vodka
- 3 oz simple syrup
Serving
- granulated sugar (for rimming shot glasses)
- lemon slices or wedges, for serving
Simple Syrup (if making homemade)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
For the Lemon Drop Shots
- Set some granulated sugar on a plate.
- Moisten the rims of your shot glasses with lemon wedges, and dip into the sugar.
- Add 1 cup of ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Juice the lemons, and measure out 6 oz (¾ cup).
- Add lemon juice, vodka and simple syrup to the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously.
- Strain into shot glasses, and serve with lemon wedges.
For the Homemade Simple Syrup
- Add sugar and water to a saucepan. Heat over medium-high, and bring to to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar. Once boiling. reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Cool and serve. Leftover lasts in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks in an airtight container.
Notes
- Chill your vodka in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before making for the best flavor.
- Add sugar rims to glasses right before serving — if they sit too long the sugar gets soggy.
- Taste the mixture before straining and adjust as needed: more simple syrup if too tart, a splash of lemon juice or vodka if too sweet.
- To make ahead, combine the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup in an airtight jar or pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours — shake with ice and strain into sugar-rimmed glasses just before serving.
Sharon says
These shots are so fresh and easy to make- I love breaking out this recipe for parties!
JACQUELINE ROLAND says
Are these 2or 4oz mason jars
Sharon Farnell says
I believe they are 2.4 oz
Alma Palmer says
Can lemon drops be made with concrete lemon juice
Sharon Farnell says
Technically, yes, but the flavor will be more bitter. I recommend fresh squeezed for this recipe.