15 Lemon Cocktails That Taste Like Sunshine

From a Limoncello Collins to a classic Lemon Drop, here are our favorite citrus forward cocktails.

Gold Rush
Photo:

Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Much like club soda, bitters, and simple syrup, lemon juice is one of those bartender's pantry staples that you'll need to make countless classic cocktails.

Many of the best lemon cocktails, like a classic Brandy Daisy or Bee's Knees, call for lemon juice as well as a lemon twist or wheel for garnish. Lemon sorbet is key to making an Italian Sgroppino, while limoncello can help step up an otherwise predictable Collins. Meanwhile, a few sprigs of mint add earthy balance to drinks like an Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka cocktail, as well as Mint Lemonade.

Whether you're looking to add a hint of lemon flavor or go all in on the sunny citrus that we know and love, read on to learn how to make our favorite lemon cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.

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Brandy Daisy

Brandy Daisy cocktail against a light grey marble background.

In case you've never had a Daisy before, this category of cocktails dates as far back as the mid-1800s. The oldest Brandy Daisy recipe on record is from Jerry “The Professor” Thomas.

Truly sunshine in a glass, this cocktail calls for both lemon juice and Yellow Chartreuse (which is softer and slightly sweeter than its relatively more famous Green counterpart), as well as a lemon twist.

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Bees Knees

Bees Knees

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling Lucy Simon

This sweet Prohibition-era classic is said to have been developed by Frank Meier, a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Although this simple cocktail calls for just three ingredients, the gin is the most important part. Opt for a London Dry gin if you want to emphasize the juniper notes in your drink; a more modern botanical gin will help the lemon notes in this cocktail shine through.

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Gold Rush

Gold Rush

Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

An undersung hybrid of two beloved classic cocktails, the Bee's Knees and Whiskey Sour, this spirit-forward drink belongs in your repertoire

First created at the late Sasha Petraske’s New York City cocktail bar Milk & Honey in the early 2000s, the Gold Rush is a staple sour that embraces the classic 2:2:1 ratio of two parts base spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour. 

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Sgroppino

Sgroppino Cocktail Recipe

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

Tired of frosé? Meet the Sgroppino, a classic frozen Italian cocktail that also happens to be deceptively boozy.

While Prosecco is traditionally used to make this summertime treat, don't feel you need to shy away from experimenting with other sparkling wines like Cava or sparkling Chenin Blanc. Feeling decadent? Go ahead and use a little Champagne.

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Lemon Drop

Lemon drop cocktails.

Food & Wine / Photo By Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop styling by Addelyn Evans

The Lemon Drop (or Lemon Drop Martini) is an iconic cocktail from the 1970s that fell on hard times after being reimagined as a sticky-sweet college-bar shooter during the 1990s. But this bright, zesty blend of vodka, lemon juice, triple sec, and sugar is actually a descendent of the classic Sidecar, a member of Prohibition-era cocktail royalty, and original member of the venerated sour family of cocktails.

Before you dismiss the Lemon Drop, try making one with its original specs, and taste why classics are forever.

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Honey Trap

Yellow Honey Trap cocktail with a bee pollen salted rim
Honey Trap cocktail.

GUILLERMO RIVEROS

This tried-and-true combination of ginger, honey, and lemon juice makes for a warming cocktail developed by Julio Xoxocotla of Bar Lula in New York City.

This reposado tequila-based cocktail calls for the extra lift of making honey syrup, an ingredient whose versatility might surprise you. Not sure where to start? Add a splash to sweeten your coffee or tea, or even pound cake.

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Bitter Lemon Spritz

Bitter Lemon Spritz

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

Consider this cocktail proof that beer — especially a light, bright lager — belongs in your spritz.

Tart lemon juice adds a bracing backbone to Averna, a richer and sweeter style of amaro that has been produced in Sicily for over a century.

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Meyer Lemon Mezcal Margarita

Meyer Lemon Margaritas

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Tart, floral Meyer lemons make these Margaritas some of the best we've tried — and we drink a lot of Margaritas around here.

While this cocktail is worth making even if you skip the lime leaf salt garnish, we recommend trying it if you have the ingredients on hand, as it adds a welcome salty and sweet pop to each sip.

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Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktail

Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktails

Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco, Addelyn Evans

This playful frozen cocktail is surprisingly flexible and easy to scale up for a crowd.

While our recipe calls for vodka, the tart and minty flavors here also play well with London Dry gin. Short on time? You can prepare the lemon and ginger mixture up to one week in advance — simply add it along with the rest of the ingredients to a blender right before guests arrive.

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Limoncello Collins

Limoncello Collins
© Tina Rupp

What better way to ring in limoncello season than by making a Collins, a classic cocktail that was likely named after 19th-century bartender John Collins of London's Limmer's Hotel.

This cocktail is a citrus lover's dream, with a combination limoncello, lemon juice, and lemon slices for garnish.

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Sparkling Mezcal Water

Sparkling Mezcal Water

Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Nidia Cueva

While you can certainly use regular lemons to make this refreshing mezcal water, you'll miss out on the delicate tanginess that Meyer lemons add.

Chef Bricia Lopez, author of Asada; The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling and co-owner of Guelaguetza restaurant in Los Angeles, suggests making this cocktail with single-origin espadín mezcal, which has a lightly smoky taste and clean finish.

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Seltz Limone e Sale (Seltzer with Lemon and Sea Salt)

Seltzer with Lemon and Sea Salt

Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by PRISSY LEE MONTIEL

Beat the hottest days of summer with a pitcher of this unexpectedly briny, bubbly Sicilian spritz.

While this recipe is technically nonalcoholic (and is delicious as-is!), you can add a shot or two of limoncello or vodka to take the drink firmly into cocktail party territory.

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Mint Lemonade

Mint Lemonade Recipe

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

Simple and satisfying, this herbaceous riff on lemonade is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

This recipe is a great way to use up almost-wilted mint leaves and stray lemons from your latest farmer's market run, and is also an easy counterpart to whatever alcohol you have handy, from mezcal to gin to vodka.

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Lemon-and-Lavender Gin Fizz

Lemon and Lavender Gin Fizz
Victor Protasio

Low in alcohol but full of flavor, this sweet, floral fizz is perfect for warm weather entertaining.

We suggest opting for a citrusy, herbal gin to make the lavender bitters shine.

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Shift Drink

Shift Drink Recipe

MAtt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter

This nonalcoholic cocktail from New York City's The Noortwyck is anything but ordinary.

The key? Spiced honey syrup, which is full of flavor thanks to cloves, cardamom, allspice, and pink peppercorns. You'll want to drizzle it on top of ice cream as well as on pancakes.

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