This crisp and refreshing vodka lemon cocktail is made with four simple ingredients for a balanced and delicious drink bursting with fresh lemony flavor.
To bring this cocktail to life, you’ll need lots of vibrant citrus juice from fresh lemons. Fresh lemon juice is key in this very simple but delicious vodka lemon drink that closely resembles a basic Lemon Drop martini.
This easy vodka drink is bursting with fresh lemon flavor and bumped up with a generous splash of good vodka then balanced with simple syrup.
A Fresh Lemon zest Cocktail Rim Seals The Deal
Before serving, collect the fresh lemon zest from a lemon. Stir in with plain white sugar to create a zesty rimming sugar for your martini glass (or coupe glass). It’s little details like this that take simple drinks to the next level and really bump up the tasting experience.
If you love lemon drop martinis, you’re sure to love this easy vodka lemon cocktail. To make this simple cocktail, we’ll reserve some slices to garnish our finished lemon vodka cocktail with a lemon twist or fresh lemon pieces.
Additionally, you can add fresh thyme sprigs to this refreshing drink for a touch of freshness and green color.
This juicy and bright vodka drink comes together in the cocktail shaker with nothing but splashes of freshly squeezed lemon juice, plain vodka, and simple syrup. All you have to do is pour, add ice, shake well, and strain.
Drink as is or top it all off to your heart’s content with delicious, crisp, and cold prosecco (or dry brut champagne). It’ll finish off this perfect drink with bubbly fizz.
Here’s how to make this great drink with just a handful of ingredients that you may already have on hand…
Ingredients to Make a Vodka Lemon Cocktail with Prosecco
- 2 to 3 Lemons – whole fresh
- Simple syrup – homemade simple syrup or store bought
- Vodka – your favorite brand of good quality plain vodka
- Prosecco or Dry Brut Champagne – for topping off
- Lemon zest and plain white sugar – for cocktail rim
- Fresh lemon slices or lemon peel – for garnish as desired
- Fresh thyme sprigs – for color and garnish as desired
How to Make an Easy Lemon Vodka Cocktail
A Delicious Vodka drink with Fresh Ingredients
The touch of fresh thyme herbs with a fresh lemon wheel floating on top (plus the sugared rim and champagne) really up the game on a super simple cocktail like this one.
Easy cocktail recipes like this are my all time favorite. They let really simple ingredients shine bright with very little effort. The result is reminiscent of a sort of flavorful and concentrated homemade lemonade cocktail with a boozy finish from the vodka and luxe prosecco bubbles.​
a fresh zippy lemon cocktail for any occasion
Here, the shining star is the fresh citrus juice from the lemons. Enjoy this easy cocktail recipe after work during happy hour on Friday nights. Serve it as a fun and bubbly brunch drink with vodka to pair with any of your favorite brunch foods.
There’s really no particular season, rhyme, or reason to make this very simple, crisp, and refreshing vodka cocktail. Laced with blazing lemon flavor and finished with dazzling champagne bubbles, this favorite vodka cocktail truly never goes out of style. Be sure to add it to your list of classic vodka cocktails so that you can come back and enjoy it any season or any time of year.
If you love lemon cocktails, be sure to keep lemon alive with a very delicious lemon basil martini, a lemon rum cocktail, or these easy lemon drop mimosas!
Bright Vodka Lemon Cocktail with Prosecco
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka - your favorite brand of good quality plain vodka
- 1½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1½ oz Simple Syrup - homemade or store bought
- 1 bottle Prosecco or Champagne - dry sparkling wine – for topping off
- Lemon Slices - for garnish
- Lemon Peel - optional for garnish
- Thyme Sprigs - fresh – optional for garnish
Instructions
- On a small flat plate, collect about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest and stir with another teaspoon of plain white sugar to create a cocktail rimming sugar.
- Swipe your martini glass or cocktail glass with a slice of fresh lemon and dip into the lemon zest and sugar mixture twisting and pressing the sugars on as needed. Â Set prepared glasses aside.
- Juice your fresh lemon(s) to collect 1 and 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Add the fresh lemon juice to the bottom of a cocktail shaker and splash in the simple syrup and the 2 oz vodka (plain vodka).
- Fill the cocktail shaker about halfway to three-quarters of the way with fresh ice and cover.
- Shake the lemon vodka martini cocktail vigorously for about 20 to 30 seconds, shaking well until the drink is combined and ice cold.
- Using a cocktail strainer, strain the drink into your prepared cocktail glass. Â Top off the drink with a splash of dry sparkling prosecco or dry brut champagne that has been already chilled.
- Finish by floating a lemon twist or lemon peel on top or float a thin slice of lemon on top. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme for bright green color, if desired.
