The Perfect Lemon Drop

My most loved cocktail in the world is a lemon drop. I order them whenever I’m out having a drink, but I’ve yet to find a restaurant that makes a really good one. They are still my favorite, but they’re always either too sweet or just too blah, not enough kick (which, I’m sure comes from not enough vodka). Anyway. I decided to create my own perfect drop. The other night I “tested” my recipe with my husband and came up with what I think is just sublime. You can use store-bought citrus vodka, but I think those have a bad aftertaste…I infuse my vodka with lemon by placing a few slices in a bowl and pouring the vodka over it…let sit for about an hour or overnight in a covered container.

Makes 2 cocktails

3 ounces citrus vodka
1 1/2 ounces triple-sec
1 1/2 ounces fresh squeezed lemon juice
2-4 teaspoons simple syrup* (to taste…depending on the tartness of your lemons)
sugar for dipping glass rims

1. Moisten the edges of a martini glass with a lemon, and then dip moistened edges into sugar.
2. Fill a shaker with ice, add vodka, lemon juice,triple-sec, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously, and strain into a martini glass.

*Simple syrup is made by combining equal parts white sugar and water in a small saucepan and heating over medium to boiling, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cool and refrigerate for up to a week.