These lemon drop shots are a super simple combination of lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup. It’s such a fun shot full of tart, lemony goodness.
This is one of my favorite recipes for a refreshing drink during warmer months, but they’re great any time of year. You can also make a full size cocktail instead of the lemon shots.
When you’re looking for easy recipes for drinks for your next party, check out these easy lemon drop shots.
Common Questions about Lemon Drop Shots
What are lemon drop shots made of?
Lemon drop shots are a combination of vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice. They may also include garnishes like a sugar-coated rim or wedge of fruit.
What is the best liquor for shots?
While everyone has their preferences, vodka is definitely a front-runner. Given its neutral flavor and aroma, it works well with lots of different flavor combinations in cocktail and shot recipes.
Storage
You can easily store this shot in the refrigerator for 2-3 days whether you made it ahead or you have leftovers.
Tips for the Best Lemon Drop Shots
We have a few tips for making these shots a success.
- For a large party, mix up a big batch in a pitcher ahead of time and gently stir before serving.
- Be sure to adjust the recipe according to the volume that your shot glasses hold.
- If you choose to do a sugar rim, always coat the rims of the glasses first, then add the liquid.
- Use a good quality vodka or one that you already know you enjoy. Grey Goose, Tito’s, or Luksosowa are all great choices.
- Pour the lemon juice into a small bowl and the sugar onto a small plate to make creating the sugar rim easier.
Ingredients
Just a handful of ingredients are all you need for these citrusy shots.
- Vodka
- Lemon juice
- Simple syrup
Optional garnishes
- Lemon wedges
- Extra lemon juice
- Granulated sugar
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need
Just a few simple tools and some glasses are all you need to get the party started.
- Stainless steel shaker or tall glass
- Stirrer (if not shaking)
- Shot glasses
How to Shake Up (or stir) the Perfect Lemon Drop Shot
These are so easy you’ll have them ready in nearly no time.
- Pour the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup over ice cubes in a cocktail shaker or tall glass (or start with cold vodka to avoid the ice).
- Give it a good shake — or stir — until all ingredients are combined.
- If you choose, dip the rim of the shot glass into lemon juice and then white sugar to coat.
- Pour the drink evenly into each of the shot glasses.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge (or thin slice of lemon), if desired.
- Serve.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Drop Shot Recipe
These pretty shots are perfect for parties.
- Delicious – These sweet, bright shots are a tasty way to kick off the night.
- Easy – It doesn’t take a lot of time or ingredients to make these shots.
- Classic – Lemon drops are a popular drink that nearly everyone enjoys whether in shot or cocktail form.
Variations and Add-ins
These are pretty straightforward shots but there are a few tweaks you can make to the recipe to put a spin on them.
- Sugar – Swap out the simple syrup for a sugar cube. Just be sure to increase the lemon juice by two ounces to balance the drink.
- Ice – Chill the ingredients ahead of time to eliminate the need to shake them with ice.
- Soda – Substitute chilled lemon-lime soda for simple syrup. Stir instead of shaking to avoid a mess!
- Cocktail – Make a big batch so you can serve up a lemon drop martini instead of a shot. Garnish your lemon drop cocktail with a lemon slice.
- Lemon juice – While we love to use fresh lemon juice, you can easily use a store-bought version instead. If you opt for a store-bought bottle, be sure that it is real lemon juice.
- Simple syrup – You can buy simple syrup already made or you can easily make your own homemade simple syrup with equal parts water and sugar. If you make your own simple syrup, you can also infuse it with extra flavor for an elevated lemon drop drink.
- Liquor/Liqueur – If you want more lemon flavor, try using a citrus vodka. For other citrusy flavors, try using a liqueur like triple sec, Grand Marnier, or limoncello.
If you love this Lemon Drop Shot recipe, you’re going to love these other cocktail/party/drink ideas too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Other Cocktails and Shots
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Lemon Drop Shot
Ingredients
- 4 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup
optional garnishes:
lemon wedges
extra lemon juice
granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a shaker or glass (whatever you have on hand works), combine the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir or shake lightly to mix.
- If desired, dip the rims of the shot glasses in lemon juice and then in the loose sugar to coat them.
- Divide the mixture between 4-5 shot glasses and top with a lemon wedge, if desired.
Notes
- You can skip the simple syrup and simply place a sugar cube in each shot glass if you would like it sweeter or to change things up. If you do this, increase the lemon juice to 4 ounces in place of the simple syrup.
- If your ingredients are already chilled, don’t worry about shaking it with ice. However, if it needs to be ice cold, shake it with ice, but do it lightly or it will froth up.
- For another version, you can also replace the simple syrup with 2 ounces of lemon-lime soda – taking care when shaking. This option is probably best when preparing already chilled ingredients so you can eliminate the need for shaking.
- Be sure to coat the rims of your shot glasses before adding the liquid, if that’s the route you’re taking.
- The size of shot glasses can vary from 1.25 ounces to 3.5 ounces. So, be aware of the size of your shot glasses and adjust the recipe as needed.
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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