LEMON DROP MARTINI

* In partnership with the Oxford Artisan Distillery.

Hot summer evenings (or days!) call for a summer cocktail, am I right? I thought I’d share one of my favourite vodka cocktails on the blog which is ideal for hot weather drinking. It’s not too sweet or strong. I’d say it’s quite a summery drink and super refreshing. It’s also one of the most simple cocktails I’ve ever made. You only need 3 ingredients (with a few optional extras). You know what they say…less is more!

I prefer to use the best quality vodka in my cocktails (purely because it tastes smoother). Oxford Rye Organic Vodka is a match made in cocktail heaven with my version of the Lemon Drop Martini (my recipe was inspired by the Easy Lemon Drop Martini).  This double award winning Vodka is 100% organic with subtle hints of spice and warm caramel. It’s very smooth and has been grown sustainably just 50 miles from Oxford. No pesticides or herbicides have been used which results in a pure, smooth tasting vodka. Thanks to the superior quality this vodka is great on its own or with ice and tonic. It obviously works well with cocktails too and isn’t overpowering at all (quite the opposite). And if you can’t think of anything to give this Father’s Day, it’s the ultimate present for the man who’s got everything.

I take my cocktail making pretty seriously which is why I always chill my martini glasses before. You can either place them in the fridge for 30 minutes or use ice cubes. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than a warm cocktail. You could also put your vodka in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving. Never store your vodka in the freezer though as it will ruin the taste. I also like to use fresh lemon juice in my cocktails. It really makes a huge difference. I’ve added an optional sugar rim to this recipe. You don’t need the sugar rim, but I find that the  sugar complements the sour lemon taste incredibly well. I also left the cointreau out to make this recipe super simple. It tastes just as good (if not better) without it.

Ingredients (single portion):

20 ml Oxford Rye Organic Vodka
10 ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Sprite (or your favourite soda)

Method:

Mix the vodka and lemon juice (with ice) in a cocktail shaker. Shake well for about 10 seconds and strain the liquid into a martini glass. Top it off with your favourite soda.

O P T I O N A L  S U G A R  R I M !

Pour sugar onto a plate. Moisten the rim with a lemon slice and dip the glass in the sugar and twist few times. Voilà!

Happy cocktail making!