This Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-tart; bright, delicious and festive holiday cocktail! With easy make-ahead cranberry simple syrup.
Easy step-by-step instructions, with make-ahead ingredients so you can focus on spending time with your guests.
Cranberry Simple Syrup
Let’s start with the crown jewel of this cocktail, Cranberry Simple Syrup! Gang, the colors are for real in this simple syrup and it is really…well…simple! I go into greater detail on the simple syrup post, but suffice it to say you need this in your fridge this season.
Ingredients for a Lemon Drop Martini
- 2 oz cranberry simple syrup (recipe included)
- 1-2 oz fresh lemon juice (depending on taste)
- 1-2 oz vodka
- Ice
- All natural cane sugar for rimming glass (optional)
- Sugared Cranberries for garnish (optional)
Making a Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
If desired, rub a wedge of lemon around the rim of glass, dip glass in all natural cane sugar, set aside until ready to pour.
Fill a cocktail shaker or mason jar fitted with a lid ½ – ⅔ full with ice. Pour cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice and vodka over ice.
Shaken, not Stirred
- Very Important * Give it at least 40-60 vigorous shakes.
- Why so important? Because vigorous shaking causes the flavors to mix, the ice to break apart and slightly dilute the drink.
- Plus it makes it nice and frothy!
Serve in a Martini glass with or without ice (I prefer with ice personally, as it’s a bit strong and I am a professed lightweight).
Garnish with a skewer of sugared cranberries and twist of lemon.
GORGEOUS! Sip slowly! Enjoy responsibly.
Make a pitcher for a crowd and let them shake their own!
Looking for more cranberry drinks! Oh please try this easy and tasty Cranberry Spritzer, keep it plain for kids and non-imbibers or add a splash of vodka for adults!
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Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
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Ingredients
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
- 2 oz cranberry simple syrup recipe included
- 1-2 oz fresh lemon juice depending on your taste
- 1-2 oz vodka
- Ice
- All natural cane sugar for rimming glass optional
Cranberry Simple Syrup (see full recipe here)
- 2 cups fresh cranberries chopped
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 cup all natural cane sugar
Instructions
- Rough chop cranberries and place in saucepan with water. Bring to simmer over medium heat, reduce to simmer and cook 20 minutes.
- Gently mash cranberries, straining through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. It should yield about 1 cup of pulpy juice, add water to make a cup if not.
- In a medium saucepan, add cranberry "juice" and 1 cup sugar. Bring to boil and IMMEDIATELY remove from heat, set aside to cool. Store in fridge. Simple syrup lasts about 3 months refrigerated.
- Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
- Fill shaker or mason jar with ice about ⅔ full. Pour in 2 oz of cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice and vodka. Adjusting vodka and lemon down if preferred.
- Rub lemon juice on rim of martini glass and dip in all natural sugar.
- Shake, shake, shake the covered jar or shaker, 40-60 vigorous shakes.
- Pour into glass, garnish with lemon twist and sugared cranberries. Serve immediately.
Notes
Make a pitcher!
Add 1 cup cranberry simple syrup, ½-1 cup lemon juice (start with a little and take a little taste, add more to desired sweet-tart ratio) and 1 cup vodka. Provide guests with sugared rim glasses if desired and a shaker, allowing guests to make their own.Nutrition
I was looking for the perfect cocktail for Thanksgiving, and we loved this one. It really got the fun rolling and is so pretty!
Aren’t they so fun!
Ooh, I love cranberry at this time of year. Thanks for sharing at the Weekend Potluck. I am pining this recipe to try later.
Thanks for pinning and commenting Erica!! Hope you enjoy!