15 Lemon Cocktails to Make All Year Long
These bright, tangy sips are all the summery refreshment you need.
Not that there's ever a bad season to sip a delicious cocktail, but there's something extra special about cocktail hour in the summer—especially with something refreshingly citrusy in your hand. Whether you're relaxing on the porch or hanging out poolside, these lemony cocktails will give your tastebuds a wake up call just in time to kick off summer.
Oliveto
Ingredients
2 oz dry gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
.25 oz simple syrup
.25 oz Licor 43
.5 oz extra virgin olive oil
1 fresh egg white
4 large ice cubes
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, combine all incredients, including ice. Shake until most of the ice is gone. Strain into a stemless wine glass and serve.
By Peder Schweigert of Marvel Bar in Minneapolis, MN.
More: Memorial Day Cocktails
The Fighter
Ingredients
1.5 oz Casamigos Blanco Tequila
1 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz agave nectar
.25 oz ginger juice
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Club soda to top
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except cayenne pepper and soda in a shaker over ice. Shake and strain over new ice into a rocks glass. Top with club soda and garnish with pinch of cayenne pepper
The Parasol
Ingredients
.5 oz Lillet Blanc
.5 oz St. Germain
.5 oz Honey Syrup (equal parts honey and water combined)
.75 oz Lemon Juice
3 oz Champagne
Instructions
Add ice to shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne.
From the Paris Club in Chicago
Sigani Sour
Ingredients
2 oz Singani 63
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
8 grapes
Instructions
Muddle grapes. Add all ingredients to iced cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with whole grapes.
By Drew Sweeny of PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown in New York City.
Lemon Drop
Ingredients
2 oz Tito’s vodka or Citadelle gin
.75 oz citrus oleo saccharum*
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Moisten half of the rim of a cocktail glass with a lemon and apply sugar. Build all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, cap shaker, and shake until well-chilled and integrated. Fine strain into the prepared glass.
*Citrus Oleo Saccharum
Peel (with as little pith as possible) 4 lemons, 3 oranges, and 2 grapefruits. Gently muddle the peels with a pint of sugar, then let the sugar and peels sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, add a pint of room temperature water to the sugar mixture and stir until dissolved, then strain to remove the peels.
From Covina in New York City.
Hot Sauce in My Bag
Ingredients
1.75 oz blanco tequila
.25 oz Ancho Reyes
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz apricot jam
Tabasco
Instructions
Place all ingredients except Tabasco in a shaker over ice and
shake. Strain into a lowball with ice. Garnish with a splash of Tabasco.
By Pamela Wiznitzer of Kola House in New York City.
Love of a Lifethyme
Ingredients
1 oz Patrón Silver
.5 oz lemon juice
.25 oz pomegranate juice
.25 oz honey
Fresh thyme
2 dashes Peychauds bitters
Prosecco to top
Instructions
Build all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake and double strain into a coupe or champagne glass. Top with prosecco and garnish with fresh thyme.
By Lucinda Sterling of Middle Branch in New York City.
Morning Glory Fizz
Ingredients
.75 oz lemon
.75 oz simple syrup
2 oz Black Bottle Scotch whisky
1 egg white
3 dashes absinthe
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a shaker. Before adding ice, dry shake cocktail until the egg white develops a foamy texture. Add ice and shake again. For optimum fluffiness, strain out ice and shake again for a few seconds until egg white forms a meringue-like whip. Top with club soda and a twist of lemon and serve.
Created by Jim Kearns for Slowly Shirley in New York City.
Sub Continental
Ingredients
1.5 oz Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin
.75 oz dry vermouth
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup
2 fresh curry leaves
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake vigorously for 5 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled coupette or martini glass. Garnish with a curry leaf on top.
Lemon Smack
Ingredients
1 oz vodka
.5 oz limoncello
.5 oz simple syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
1 barspoon of lemon curd
Limonata soda to top
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except for soda in a shaker over ice and shake. Strain into a glass and top with soda. Garnish with dehydrated lemon.
By Naren Young of Dante in New York City.
Italian Lemon Drop
Ingredients
2 oz Italian Purus vodka
1 oz Triple Sec
.5 oz limoncello
.5 oz simple syrup
Juice from half a lemon
Instructions
Combine and shake all ingredients together with ice. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel.
Silver Sliver
Ingredients
2 oz Dolin Blanc
2 Kaffir lime leaves
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
1 egg white
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a shaker over ice and shake vigorously until egg white emulsifies. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a kaffir lime leaf.
By Tom Richter of Chao Chao in New York City.
Lemon Blueberry Margarita
Ingredients
2 oz Blue Nectar Tequila Silver
6 oz lemonade
.25 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
Lightly muddle blueberries into a shaker. Shake all ingredients together with ice and strain into glass over new ice. Garnish with lemon wheel and blueberries.
Yuzu Drop
Ingredients
1 oz iichiko shochu
1 oz iichiko Yuzu
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup
2 dash orange bitters
Instructions
Shake all ingredients over ice and fine strain into a lightly sugar rimmed stemmed glass. Garnish with lemon wheel.
By Alex Leber for iichiko shochu.
Grand Collins
Ingredients
1.5 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
.75 oz lemon juice
1 barspoon simple syrup
3 oz soda water
Instructions
Build drink in shaker tin, add ice, and shake. Strain over ice into a Collins glass.
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.
Watch Next
Holiday Cocktails to Drink This Christmas
18 Mocktails for Thanksgiving
Tasty Thanksgiving Cocktails
The Best Fall Mocktails