Some cocktails are trying to be fancy. The Lemon Drop Martini doesn't need to try — it just is. Sharp, bright, citrusy, and served in a sugar-frosted glass that makes you feel like the main character at the bar. This classic has been winning over drinkers since the 1970s, and made with TAG No.5 Vodka and freshly squeezed lemon juice, it hits different. The secret? Quality Ontario-made vodka and actual lemons. Groundbreaking, we know.

Ingredients

2 oz TAG No.5 Vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice 
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz orange liqueur (optional but highly recommended)
Sugar for the rim
Lemon twist for garnish
Ice

How to Make It

Run a lemon wedge around the rim of your martini glass, then press it into a shallow plate of sugar for that iconic frosted edge. Chill the glass in the freezer while you prep. Add TAG No.5 Vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and orange liqueur to a shaker packed with ice. Shake hard — like you mean it — for a full 15–20 seconds. Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass, express a lemon twist over the top, and try to look nonchalant about how good this is.

Pro Tips

Fresh lemon juice is the whole game here. No shortcuts. The orange liqueur adds a round complexity that the straight version is missing — it's optional in name only. Shake vigorously: that micro-foam on top is what separates a great Lemon Drop from a merely good one. And always, always chill the glass.

More vodka cocktails? Try our Hugo Spritz or the Strawberry Basil Vodka Smash. Shop TAG No.5 Vodka online — Maverick Distillery delivers across Ontario with free shipping over $150 and $20 off your first order. Ontario-made spirits, delivered to your door since 2009.