Raspberry Lemon Drop

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Sugary, sweet, tart and neat… That’s the Raspberry Lemon Drop cocktail.

The Lemon Drop Martini isn’t just a classic cocktail that was inspired by a favorite, citrus-flavored candy, it was also one of the flagship drinks of an entire social trend. Have you ever heard of something called a “fern bar”? This was a series of taverns and cocktail bars that began sprouting up all over the United States in the 1970s, originating in San Francisco.

Basically, a “fern bar” was a place that swinging and attractive single professionals could go to, then meet and mingle with other like-minded young adults. Cocktails like the Harvey Wallbanger were hitting the scene, and becoming quite popular. Among these drinks was the Lemon Drop Martini, an elixir mixed with vodka, lemon juice, triple sec and simple syrup, which was invented by Norman Jay Hobday at his own fern bar in Frisco called Henry Africa’s.

Tonight’s tipple is a sweetened and thoroughly amazing riff on Hobday’s classic recipe, the Raspberry Lemon Drop. While vodka and lemon juice still lead the conga line in this version, a raspberry liqueur jumps in, bringing a beautiful red hue and potent fruitiness with it. You might not see too many fern bars nowadays, or even ferns for that matter, but a Raspberry Lemon Drop cocktail still likes to have a good time.

What Is A Lemon Drop?

A “lemon drop” is a classic hard candy that has been around since the 18th century, when innovations in the sugar industry made hard confections possible. It first originated in England, after candy makers discovered that adding citric acid to boiling sugar kept the results from crystallizing. If you’ve ever enjoyed a few LemonHeads in your youth, you’ve had the modern equivalent of the lemon drop.

What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Raspberry Lemon Drop?

Since this cocktail is a sweet and fruity affair, I’ll suggest we all pick an unflavored vodka for our drink’s base. It’ll mix and meld beautifully with the raspberry, sugar and lemon juice, neither overpowering nor disappearing under those notes. You’ll still have a nice bite on the finish, and if you’ve gone with a simple and trustworthy bottle of Chambord for your raspberry liqueur, you’re ahead of the game and in good shape.

FAQs & Tips

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

Rub a lemon wedge on the rim of a chilled martini glass or coupe, then coat it with sugar. Once your drink is poured and ready to imbibe, drop a cocktail skewer with a few fresh raspberries across the top, then garnish with a lemon twist.

CAN YOU STORE THE RASPBERRY LEMON DROP?

Yes, you can make and store this drink ahead of time, and in a large batch for a party. Just scale up the ingredients, combine them in a large pitcher and stir gently without ice. Store covered in your fridge until you’re ready to pour, and shake individual servings over ice.

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN A RASPBERRY LEMON DROP?

This sweet and fruity dram is around 225 calories per glass, so be mindful of those numbers when having a few more rounds.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE ADAPTED INTO A SHOT?

Yes. Check out our recipe for the Lemon Drop Shot, and try replacing the sugar with raspberry liqueur. Play around with it, and have fun.

Similar Cocktails To The Raspberry Lemon Drop

The deeper I wade into the waters of the cocktail world, the more raspberries I come across. And this is a good thing. I love the red, tart and sweet berry, especially with a little whipped cream, or on top of a few scoops of vanilla bean. A number of mixed drinks also love the company of the crimson fruit. Check these recipes out, especially if you’ve just come back from the produce section.

• Tequila Mockingbird – Tequila and orange liqueur get topped off with some fresh raspberries in this summer favorite.
• French Martini – Take this Chambord-tinged tipple for a spin this evening.
• Clover Club – Raspberry syrup helps make this elixir silky and smooth.
• Black Superman – This powerful potion is topped with a sweet drizzle of raspberry liqueur.