Dress up your Lemondrop!

Spring is officially here, and for us that  means sun, fun and lemondrop martinis! There are dozens of lemondrop recipes out there for you to choose from, but after some searching we realized that it isn’t quite the recipe the makes a lemondrop so enticing- it’s the garnish! Whether you use one of the recipes below- or create your own version, make sure you sk ip the standard lemon slice (not to say you can’t start with one!) and dress up your lemondrop this spring!

#1: The Flying V

For this easy twist on the classic lemon slice, you’ll want to first cut the end off a lemon then cut a large wheel. Cut the wheel in half, and very carefully cut the lemon skin away from the slice, leaving about 1/4 still attached. Lay the skin strip out on a cutting board and cut a V-shape into it- but make sure the cuts don’t actually touch. Fold the lemon strip and tuck the end back into the nook where the strip is still attached. Cut a small slice in between 2 segments of the lemon and place on the rim.

Recipe:

2 oz Clique Vodka

1/2 oz lemongrass syrup

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice in a cocktail tin and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

#2: The Fringe Effect

For this one, start with half a lemon wheel like above, and cut the lemon skin away from the fruit- leaving about 1/4 attached. Lay the strip down on a cutting board and make as many very small slices as you can- creating a fringe. Carefully tuck a few of them up into the nook where the fringe starts and cut a small slice between 2 of the fruit segments and place on the rim.

Recipe:

2 oz Clique Vodka

1/2 oz simple syrup (1 part sugar dissolved in 1 part hot water)

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice in a cocktail tin and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

#3: Smell the Roses

For this one, use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to cut away a long strip of lemon peel- try to get the entire lemon in 1 piece if you can. if you have an odd shaped lemon- cut the ends off first so the lemon has more give as you try to peel as much skin as possible. Wrap the peel into a tight spiral and secure it with a toothpick or sword. Drop the rose into the glass, or  rest the pick on the rim.

Recipe:

2 oz Clique Vodka

1/2 oz Triple sec

1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice in a cocktail tin and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

#4:  The Rising Sun

Using a pairing knife or vegetable peeler, cut away the largest piece of skin you can and lay it flat on a cutting board. Trim it into a rough sun shape, then cut 2 parallel slices on the top to make a centered ray. Continue cutting parallel slices with a bit in between, then fold the extra slivers back to break them off. Cut 2 small slits in either side of the bottom to balance it on the rim.

Recipe:

2 oz Clique Vodka

1/4 oz Triple sec

1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice

sugar

First rub a lemon slice around the rim of the glass to coat with lemon juice, then dip in a saucer of sugar to coat. Chill all liquid ingredients over ice and strain into the glass.