Strawberry Lemon Drop
Sweet, tart, and completely refreshing, this Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is the perfect cocktail for spring and summer entertaining! It’s made with real strawberries, fresh lemon juice and vodka for a fruity twist on the classic. It comes together with just a bit of prep and it’s so easy to make!

If there’s a cocktail that embodies spring and summer perfectly, it’s this Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini. It’s tart and sweet like the classic lemon drop, with juicy fresh strawberries to add even more sweetness and flavor.
And you just can’t beat the beautiful color. 🙂
The strawberries are muddled and then strained so that the juices are perfectly smooth, then it’s combined with fresh lemon juice, vodka and cointreau in a cocktail shaker.
From there, it’s poured in a cocktail glass with a festive sugar rim for the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
This is a wonderful way to use super sweet, juicy strawberries from the farmer’s market!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This homemade lemon drop martini with fresh strawberries is bursting with fresh flavor, and it’s the perfect balance of tart, sweet and refreshing.
- It’s a show stopping cocktail for spring and summer with a shiny sugar rim and gorgeous red hue.
- It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients, and the strawberry and lemon juice may be prepped ahead.
- The recipe can be easily scaled for any number of guests.
Recipe ingredients
- Strawberries. The fresher and juicier your strawberries are, the more sweetness and flavor your cocktails will have. Taste your strawberries before muddling — if they’re nice and sweet, you can reduce or even eliminate the need for simple syrup. Instead of muddling, process your strawberries in a food processor and strain well.
- Lemon juice. Use fresh lemon juice for maximum flavor. Bottled lemon juice just won’t provide that fresh flavor.
- Vodka. This vodka lemon strawberry cocktail includes 1.5 ounces of vodka per drink. Use more or less depending how strong you want your cocktail to be. Use good quality vodka such as Kettle One, Grey Goose or Hangar 1.
- Triple sec or Cointreau. Lemon drop martinis typically include triple sec, which is an affordable orange liqueur. I normally have Cointreau on hand, which is a premium orange liqueur that has a smoother, cleaner flavor and less sweetness. Either works great for this cocktail.
- Sugar/simple syrup. The sugar rim and simple syrup are optional for this cocktail depending on how sweet you like your drinks. I typically don’t use either, especially if my strawberries are very sweet, but it’s totally personal preference. Use your favorite store bought simple syrup or use honey as desired.
- Optional garnishes. Garnish your cocktails with lemon and strawberry for a festive touch!
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make this lemon drop martini with strawberries
This strawberry lemon drop couldn’t be easier to make. Simply muddle some strawberries, juice some lemons, and shake all of the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker!
Pro tip: Taste the strawberries before muddling. The fresher and juicier your strawberries are, the more sweet and flavorful your cocktail will be, which may eliminate or reduce the amount of simple syrup.
See the recipe card below for full recipe instructions.
Prep the lemons and strawberries
Assemble the cocktail
Recipe FAQs
For the freshest, sweetest flavor, you should use fresh strawberries for this strawberry cocktail recipe. That said, frozen strawberries will work in a pinch.
Simply thaw the strawberries, muddle and strain them as directed, then taste the juice and see how sweet it is. You may definitely need to add extra simple syrup to make up for lack of sweetness.
Absolutely! Simply prepare the juice as instructed and store it in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. The same can be done with the lemon juice, which will make cocktail assembly go even more quickly.
If your strawberries are nice and sweet, you may find that you don’t need to add any simple syrup at all. You can also omit the sugar from the rim of the cocktail to cut down on sugar as well.
If you’d like to serve this fresh strawberry cocktail for your spring and summer parties, simply prep a big batch of strawberries either by muddling and straining them as directed, or process them in bulk in a food processor and strain.
From there, juice several lemons and have your ingredients ready to go!
Recipe variations
There are a number of delicious ways to change up this summer martini recipe.
- Swap out the simple syrup (if using) with honey as desired.
- Try using raspberries in place of strawberries for a delicious twist.
- Add fresh basil when muddling the strawberries for a bit of herbaceous flavor.
- Top the cocktail off with prosecco or sparkling water for a bit of bubbly.
- Make it a mocktail by swapping out the vodka and Cointreau with sparkling water.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Taste the strawberries before muddling. The fresher and juicier your strawberries are, the more sweet and flavorful your cocktail will be, which may eliminate or reduce the amount of simple syrup.
- Prep the strawberry juice and lemon juice in advance to make cocktails quickly and easily.
- If you’re strawberries are very sweet and you use sugar on the rim of your glass, simple syrup may not be necessary. The amount of sweetness is personal preference!
- This recipe is easily scaled for crowds! Simply make a larger batch of strawberry juice in a food processor and strain as directed, and juice more lemons. Store the juices in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
More cocktail recipes you’ll love:
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar for the rims of the glasses; optional
- 8 fresh strawberries medium to large in size; use 10-12 strawberries for even more strawberry flavor
- 3 ounces vodka decrease to 2 ounces for
- 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce Cointreau sub with triple sec
- 1 ounce simple syrup add more to taste or omit; see note 3
- garnish with strawberry and lemon slice optional
Instructions
- Place the 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar on a plate. Wet the rim of (2) martini glasses with water and dip the rims of the glasses in the sugar. Set aside.2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Remove the stems from the strawberries, then slice them and place in a small bowl. Muddle them until all the juice has been released, then place in a mesh strainer over a bowl and strain well. Discard the solids. You'll have roughly 2-3 tablespoons of strawberry juice depending on how juicy your strawberries are. Feel free to use more strawberries for extra strawberry flavor!8 fresh strawberries
- Place the strawberry juice, vodka, lemon juice, Cointreau and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add about 4 ice cubes and secure the lid. Shake for roughly 30 seconds until the cocktail is cold, then strain into the prepared cocktail glasses. Garnish with strawberry and lemon if desired and serve immediately. Enjoy!3 ounces vodka, 2 ounces fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce Cointreau, 1 ounce simple syrup, garnish with strawberry and lemon slice
Notes
- Pro tip: Taste the strawberries before muddling. The fresher and juicier your strawberries are, the more sweet and flavorful your cocktail will be, which may eliminate or reduce the amount of simple syrup.Â
- Prep the strawberry juice and lemon juice in advance to make cocktails quickly and easily.
- If you’re strawberries are very sweet and you use sugar on the rim of your glass, simple syrup may not be necessary. The amount of sweetness is personal preference!
- This recipe is easily scaled for crowds!Â
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
37 Comments on “Strawberry Lemon Drop”
Absolutely amazing! So fresh, so delicious! My strawberries pureed wouldnt strain, we’re too thick, so I just used them pureed, very very good! Perfection! Even though it’s on the stronger side, but isn’t that how it should be? ? Thanks so much for the recipe! Love it and definitely a keeper! A+++
Thank you for the great feedback, Luda, and I’m so glad you loved the drink! I agree…the drink is better on the strong side. ?
This looks perfect, Marcie! Can’t wait to make it this summer….or maybe this weekend!!!!
This is my kind of drink Marcie! Looks so good.
Thank you, Jocelyn! 🙂
I think I found my new favorite drink Marcie! So refreshing!!
Thanks, Deb! 🙂
Mmmm a good cocktail is definitely something I can get behind! This one sounds so yummy, perfectly refreshing for summer! Is it Friday yet!?
It is Friday, Jess! haha Thanks, and have a great weekend! 🙂