Basil Lemon Drop Martini

Ingredient Notes

Citron vodka – This is a lemony, citrus-based vodka that brings an extra refreshing quality to the martini. I used Ketel One, but there are many widely available brands that make citron vodka such as Grey Goose’s Le Citron, Absolut’s Citron, and Ciroc’s Limonata. Plain vodka can certainly be used, but the cocktail might not have as much citrus flavor. 

Lemon juice – When using citrus in cocktails, opt for fresh whenever you can. Bottled citrus juices don’t do well in cocktail recipes, especially one that only has a few ingredients like this recipe.

Basil simple syrup – Making this syrup is super easy and far more economical than trying to find it at the store. I have a ton of basil growing in my container garden, so it was perfect for infusing simple syrup with its sweet, herbal essence.

Garnishes – I like using lemon wheels and basil leaves for garnishes, but you can also use a lemon twist or peel for an easy garnish. 

Making the Basil Syrup

The basil simple syrup ratios are listed in the recipe card below. Essentially, you combine equal parts (1 cup each) of water and granulated sugar together and either heat in the microwave or on the stovetop until the sugar has dissolved.

You remove it from the heat and add the fresh basil leaves. (Do not use dried basil! Fresh is a must!) Then, you just let the leaves seep while it cools. Once it is cooled completely, you can remove the leaves and store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. 

Other Uses for Simple Syrup

You can obviously make quite a few Basil Lemon Drop Martini cocktails with the leftover basil syrup, but you can also use it for other things like:

• Sweetening hot or iced tea, lemonades, or other cocktails. When you add it to cold drinks, like iced tea, it blends in seamlessly and there won’t be any gritty texture since the sugar was already dissolved in water previously.
• Drizzle on cakes before icing to help keep cakes moist and flavorful on the inside. 
• Add it to fruit salads – this basil syrup especially would be lovely in a fruit salad for summer!
• Other cocktails such as a Basil Gin and Tonic.

Making the Cocktail

Step 1: Add the vodka and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.

Step 2: Then, add the basil simple syrup along with ice cubes. Shake until well chilled.

Step 3: Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish with a lemon slice and/or basil leaves if desired.

Tips and Variations

For a sweeter cocktail, add more simple syrup or add some limoncello similar to how I used it in my Limoncello Martini.

To get a more tart or sour cocktail, increase the amount of lemon juice.

If you want some bubbles in your drink, top your drink off with sparkling lemonade or champagne/sparkling wine.

Try adding a sugar rim by dipping the rim of your glass in lemon juice and then rolling in granulated sugar before you make your cocktail.

Muddle some berries or sliced cucumbers in the cocktail shaker before you add all of your ingredients for some flavor variety.

For a more complex bitter flavor, try adding a touch of grapefruit juice or a few dashes of citrus bitters. 

Batching and Making Ahead

You can make a big batch of this cocktail very easily. Simply, multiply the ingredient amounts by how many servings you want. To make things easier, I’ve included measurements for a batch of 8 servings in the recipe card notes below. 

You’ll just want to mix the vodka, lemon juice, and basil simple syrup in a large pitcher. If you’re serving right away, you’ll want to add the mixture in batches to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Then, you can strain into individual glasses. You’ll have to repeat as necessary.

If you’re not serving right away, you can store the pitcher in the fridge for up to 1 day in advance. You don’t have to use the cocktail shaker method for chilling since it’ll already be chilled, but be sure to give it a good stir to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed.