If you’re looking for a holiday drink that’s bright, refreshing, and just a little bit fancy, you’re going to love this Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe. It’s one of those cocktails that feels like celebration in a glass—tart lemon, a touch of sweet cranberry, and that beautiful rosemary sprig that just screams festive. Trust me, after mixing up this cocktail a few times during the holidays, it quickly became my go-to when hosting friends and family.

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Flavors: The tartness of lemon perfectly melds with the subtle sweetness from cranberry and syrup, creating a refreshing but festive drink.
Simple Yet Elegant: Few ingredients, big impact—easy enough to whip up quickly, but fancy enough for holiday guests.
Festive Garnishes: The rosemary sprig and sugared rim add that perfect seasonal touch without extra fuss.
Crowd-Pleasing: It’s a cocktail that’s both refreshing and flavorful, appealing to a wide range of palates.

Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail, lemon drop cocktail, holiday cocktail recipes, festive drinks, cranberry lemon cocktail - A clear cocktail glass with a sugar rim holds a pale pink drink. Inside the drink near the surface are three shiny berries—two red and one dark purple—along with a green rosemary sprig laying flat. A thin lemon slice is placed on the edge of the glass. The glass is shown close up on a white marbled surface with soft, blurred warm lights in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe plays a role in crafting that perfect balance of tart, sweet, and aromatic. Plus, they’re easy to find during the holidays, making your cocktail hour a breeze.

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Vodka: A neutral spirit that lets the bright flavors shine through without overpowering the profile.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed is key here! It adds the essential tang that balances the sweetness.
Cranberry juice: Offers a festive red color and a subtle tartness that enhances the holiday vibe.
Simple syrup: Sweetens the drink just enough to smooth out the sharp edges.
Cranberries: Perfect for garnish — they’re cute, seasonal, and add a pop of color.
Rosemary sprig: Adds a fresh, piney aroma that complements the citrus perfectly.
Sugar: For rimming the glass, providing a delightful sweet crunch with every sip.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe is great as-is, but I love how easy it is to tweak for your own taste or dietary needs. Don’t be shy to personalize it!

Variation: I sometimes swap vodka for gin to add a nice botanical twist, which is great if you want something a little different but still citrus-forward.
Dietary tweak: Use a sugar substitute in the simple syrup if you’re cutting down on sugar, but keep it balanced so you don’t lose that smooth sweetness.
Seasonal touch: Try muddling in a few fresh cranberries or a sprig of thyme for an herbal alternative to rosemary—gives a lovely aroma and a little flavor surprise.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe

Step 1: Prep your glass for that perfect rim

I always start by running the cut side of a lemon around my glass rim. This little step gives the sugar something to stick to and adds an extra hit of lemon aroma right at first sip. Then I dip the rim into a plate of sugar, coating it evenly—and pop the glass into the freezer while I mix the drink. This makes the glass nicely chilled and keeps the sugar rim from melting off too quickly.

Step 2: Shake up the magic

Into a cocktail shaker, I pour 2 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of fresh lemon juice, ¾ ounce cranberry juice, and half an ounce of simple syrup. Then I add plenty of ice—don’t be shy here! Shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels frosty cold. This chills everything perfectly and blends the flavors beautifully.

Step 3: Strain and garnish like a pro

Once shaken, I strain the cocktail into the chilled, sugar-rimmed glass. Finally, I add a fresh rosemary sprig and a few cranberries. Not only do they look festive and pretty, but the rosemary’s herbal fragrance enhances the whole experience right before the first sip.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Fresh Lemon Juice Only: Bottled lemon juice just can’t compare; fresh juice brightens the cocktail brilliantly.
Chill in Advance: Freezing your glass beforehand makes the whole drinking experience feel extra cool and crisp.
Shake It Well: Don’t rush the shaking—vigorous shaking both chills and dilutes the cocktail just enough for balance.
Sugar Rim Tip: Make sure your lemon juice rim is evenly coated; a patchy sugar rim feels less polished and can result in uneven sweetness.

How to Serve Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe

Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail, lemon drop cocktail, holiday cocktail recipes, festive drinks, cranberry lemon cocktail - A clear glass with a wide bowl holds a pink drink with a sugared rim, a slice of yellow lemon, a small green rosemary sprig inside, and small red berries floating in the drink. The glass stands on a white marbled surface with scattered red berries around it. To the left, there is a lit white candle with gold star designs, and to the right, there is a half lemon and a small green pine branch decorated with red berries and white frost. In the background, a decorated Christmas tree with red and gold round ornaments is visible in a soft kitchen setting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I’m a big fan of the classic rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries here—the piney fragrance of rosemary just screams holidays, and those bright red cranberries make the drink pop visually. Sometimes I like to lightly bruise the rosemary in the shaker before straining to boost the herbal aroma. A sugared rim isn’t just pretty; it adds a little candy-like crunch that’s delightful with the tart flavors.

Side Dishes

When I serve this cocktail at holiday parties, I usually pair it with light bites—think prosciutto-wrapped melon balls, brie and cranberry crostinis, or a simple cheese board with nuts and dried fruits. The tartness of the cocktail complements salty and savory snacks beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve lined the serving tray with pine branches and sprinkled some edible gold glitter around the glasses—trust me, it’s a showstopper! You can also serve the cocktail in mini mason jars with tiny cinnamon sticks as stirrers for a fun twist. Hosting a bigger group? Prepare a large batch in a beautiful pitcher and garnish each glass individually for easy and elegant entertaining.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

This one’s best made fresh, but if you do have leftover cocktail, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I find shaking it again with fresh ice before serving helps restore its chill and balance.

Freezing

Freezing a Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe isn’t ideal because the citrus and syrups separate when frozen, affecting texture and taste. I recommend sticking to fresh batches.

Reheating

Since this is a cold cocktail, reheating isn’t necessary or recommended. Instead, just give stored leftovers a good shake with fresh ice to brighten the flavors before serving again.

FAQs

Can I make this Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe without alcohol?

Absolutely! Substitute the vodka with club soda, sparkling water, or a lemon-flavored non-alcoholic spirit. The lemon and cranberry juices will keep the drink bright and festive, and you’ll still get all the holiday vibes.
What type of vodka works best for this cocktail?

I usually go for a clean, neutral vodka—one that doesn’t have strong flavors competing with the lemon and cranberry. Nothing too harsh; a smoother vodka will make the cocktail taste more balanced and polished.
Can I prepare this Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe in a large batch?

Definitely! Just multiply the ingredients accordingly and mix them in a pitcher. Chill before serving, and rim the glasses individually with sugar for the best presentation. Add fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries in each glass to keep that festive feel.
How do I make simple syrup at home?

Making simple syrup is super easy: just combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, heat gently until the sugar dissolves completely, then cool before using. It keeps in the fridge for weeks and saves you from buying it premade!

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Festive Lemon Drop Cocktail Recipe has been my holiday secret weapon for years. It’s quick to make, looks gorgeous, and tastes like you put in way more effort than you did. The balance of tart lemon and sweet cranberry hits the spot every time, and I’ve loved sharing it with friends who always ask for seconds. I really hope you give it a go this season—it’s the kind of cocktail that brings a little sparkle to any gathering, and you’ll enjoy how easy and rewarding it is to make. Cheers!