Lemon Drop Martini
Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

For Lemonade Concentrate:

5 lemons, divided

¾ cup (5¼ ounces) sugar

⅛ teaspoon table salt

1 cup hot water

For Lemon Drop Martini:

1 tablespoon sugar for rim of glass (optional)

lemon wedge (optional)

¼ cup vodka

¼ cup Lemonade Concentrate

Instructions

1. Using vegetable peeler, remove zest of 2 washed lemons in strips. Transfer zest to bowl and add sugar and salt. Toss to combine. Using potato masher, mash zest, sugar, and salt vigorously until mixture is damp, clumpy, and very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add hot water and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Set aside until cool, about 30 minutes. While mixture cools, juice enough lemons to yield ¾ cup juice.

2. Stir juice into zest mixture until combined. Strain through fine-mesh strainer set over 2-cup liquid measuring cup; discard zest. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour. (If not using concentrate right away, transfer to airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.)
   

   TO MAKE LEMONADE: For single serving, pour ½ cup cold water and ½ cup concentrate over ice and stir gently to combine, dilute with additional water to taste. For 4 servings, fill pitcher with ice, add 2 cups cold water and all of concentrate, and stir to combine. For sparkling lemonade, substitute plain seltzer for cold water.

   TO MAKE LEMON DROP MARTINI:

   Spread sugar into even layer on saucer. Moisten rim of cocktail glass by running lemon wedge around edge. Roll rim in sugar to coat.

   Combine ice, vodka, and lemonade concentrate in cocktail shaker. Shake until well chilled, 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into glass. Serve.