What’s better than a refreshing lemon cocktail? Fresh lemon juice brings a tangy zing to so many classic drinks! In fact, it’s one of the most used ingredients in mixed drinks (outside of the liquor, of course). Lemon works in all seasons: it brings warm punch to winter and fall drinks, and a lightness to breezy summer cocktails. Outside of lime, it’s one of Alex and my favorite ingredients to use in our cocktail recipes. Here are the very best lemon cocktails that you should add to your “to try” list. They range from classic drinks like the Lemon Drop Martini and Whiskey Sour, to more inventive spins like a Lemon Margarita (it’s a thing!). Because they use lemon, liquor and sweetener, all of these drinks are part of the family of sour cocktails. Here’s all the best that this sunny citrus has to offer!
And now…the best lemon cocktails to try!
Best lemon juicer
When you’re making lemon cocktails, a good juicer is a must! It makes sure you get all the juice out of the lemon, and none of the seeds. Here’s a lemon juicer we recommend: it’s slick and juices lemons in an instant! Ingredients: Vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, simple syrup Variations: Boston Sour (adds egg white) Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup or simple syrup Variations: Vodka Sidecar Ingredients: Cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, soda water Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne Ingredients: Tequila, lemon juice, Cointreau Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water Variations: Maple Bourbon Smash Ingredients: Whiskey, lemon, fresh mint, simple syrup, soda water Ingredients: Amaretto, bourbon, lemon, simple syrup, egg white, bitters Ingredients: Vodka, 100% cranberry juice, lemon juice, Cointreau, simple syrup Ingredients: Gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, egg white Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup or simple syrup, red wine Variations: Southside Fizz, Sake Southside Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, lime juice, fresh mint, simple syrup Ingredients: St Germain, Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne Variations: Vodka Sour Ingredients: Vodka, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, egg white
How to make a lemon twist
Lemon cocktails are often garnished with a lemon twist. What’s the easiest way to make one? We’ve got an easy method that doesn’t require any special tools: just a knife! Go to How to Make a Lemon Twist.
More types of cocktails
There are lots more great cocktail recipes to try! Here are some of our collections: No reviews
Sour Cocktails All the very best sours: Boston Sour, Sidecar, even the Margarita and Mojito. Gin Cocktails All the classics: Gin Fizz, Gin and Tonic, and more! Bourbon Cocktails Try these bourbon greats: the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and more. Champagne Cocktails These cocktails are light and bubbly! Perfect for celebration. Cranberry Cocktails Vibrant cranberry cocktails are so refreshing, like Vodka Cranberry and Sea Breeze. Frozen Alcoholic Drinks Cool off with Frose or Frozen Sangria.
