18 Lemon twist cocktails you can make in minutes!

Indulge in the refreshing and zesty world of lemon twist cocktails! Elevate your drinks experience with these tangy, citrus-infused concoctions that are perfect for any occasion. From casual gatherings to celebratory events, lemon twist cocktails will leave you and your guests craving for more.

Lemon Twist Cocktails: A Citrusy Delight

Lemon twist cocktails are the perfect drinks for those who love a balance of sweet and sour flavors. The delicate touch of citrus adds a refreshing and invigorating twist to your favorite beverages. Ideal for various events, these cocktails are sure to be a hit among your guests.

Why Choose Lemon Twist Cocktails?

  • Refreshing: The zesty lemon twist adds a revitalizing touch to your drinks, making them perfect for warm weather and outdoor events.

  • Versatile: Lemon twist cocktails can be enjoyed by everyone, as they pair well with a wide variety of spirits and mixers, catering to different preferences.

  • Elegant: The beautiful garnish of a lemon twist adds a touch of sophistication to your drinks, making them visually appealing and Instagram-worthy.

When to Serve Lemon Twist Cocktails?

  1. Summer Parties: The refreshing citrus flavor is perfect for cooling down during hot summer days.

  2. Weddings and Celebrations: Impress your guests with the elegant and delicious taste of lemon twist cocktails.

  3. Cocktail Nights: Experiment with different spirits and mixers to create your own unique lemon twist concoctions.

  4. Casual Gatherings: Keep it simple and enjoyable with lemon twist cocktails that everyone can appreciate.

So, get ready to pucker up and enjoy the delightful world of lemon twist cocktails! With their versatile nature and exquisite taste, these drinks are sure to become a staple in your cocktail repertoire.

Martini

The Martini has a crisp, clean, and slightly herbal taste. It is a strong and sophisticated cocktail with a hint of bitterness from the vermouth.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Green olive: 1
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. Chill a cocktail glass by filling it with ice and water. Set aside.
  2. In a mixing glass, combine the gin and dry vermouth.
  3. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir the mixture for 20-30 seconds until well chilled.
  4. Discard the ice and water from the cocktail glass.
  5. Strain the mixture into the chilled cocktail glass.
  6. Garnish with either a green olive or a lemon twist.

Lemon Drop Martini

The Lemon Drop Martini has a bright, zesty, and slightly sweet taste. The combination of lemon juice and simple syrup creates a perfect balance of sour and sweet, while the vodka adds a smooth and strong kick. The sugar rim adds an extra touch of sweetness to each sip.

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Ingredients

  • Vodka: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Lemon juice: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Simple syrup: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Ice: As needed
  • Sugar: For rimming
  • Lemon twist: 1 for garnish

Recipe

  1. Prepare the martini glass:
  • Wet the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge.
  • Dip the rim in sugar to create a sugar rim.
  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the following ingredients:
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz simple syrup
  • Add ice to the shaker.
  1. Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
  2. Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré is a complex and well-balanced cocktail with a smooth, rich taste. It has a hint of sweetness from the cognac and herbal notes from the Bénédictine. The rye whiskey adds a spicy kick, while the vermouth and bitters provide a slightly bitter undertone.

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Ingredients

  • Rye whiskey: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Cognac: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Sweet vermouth: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Bénédictine: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Peychaud's bitters: 2 dashes
  • Angostura bitters: 2 dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Garnish: 1 cherry

Recipe

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice
  2. Add rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, Peychaud's bitters, and Angostura bitters
  3. Stir well until chilled
  4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice
  5. Garnish with a lemon twist and a cherry

Bijou

The Bijou cocktail has a complex and well-balanced taste, featuring herbal and botanical notes from the gin and green Chartreuse, sweetness from the sweet vermouth, and a hint of bitterness from the orange bitters. It is a strong, rich, and slightly sweet drink with a smooth and velvety texture.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Sweet vermouth: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Green chartreuse: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Orange bitters: 1dash
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. In a mixing glass, combine the following ingredients:
  • 1.5 oz gin
  • 0.75 oz sweet vermouth
  • 0.5 oz green Chartreuse
  • 1 dash of orange bitters
  1. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir well to chill and dilute the cocktail.
  2. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the drink and placing it on the rim of the glass.

Champagne Cocktail

The Champagne Cocktail has a delightful balance of flavors, with the sweetness of the sugar cube and the bitterness of the Angostura bitters complementing the crisp, dry taste of the champagne. The drink is effervescent, refreshing, and slightly fruity.

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Ingredients

  • Champagne: 5 oz(150ml)
  • Angostura bitters: 2dashes
  • Sugar cube: 1
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Maraschino cherry: 1

Recipe

  1. Chill a champagne flute in the freezer for a few minutes.
  2. Soak the sugar cube with the Angostura bitters and place it at the bottom of the chilled flute.
  3. Pour the champagne slowly over the sugar cube, allowing the bubbles to rise and dissolve the sugar.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist and a maraschino cherry.

Tuxedo

The Tuxedo cocktail is a complex and balanced drink with a slightly sweet, herbal, and citrusy flavor profile. It has a smooth and silky texture, with a hint of bitterness from the vermouth and a warming, slightly spicy finish from the gin.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Maraschino liqueur: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2dashes
  • Absinthe: 1dash
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Garnish: 1Cherry

Recipe

  1. Chill a cocktail glass by filling it with ice and water, then set aside
  2. In a mixing glass, combine the gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, and absinthe
  3. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir well to chill and dilute the cocktail
  4. Discard the ice and water from the chilled cocktail glass
  5. Strain the cocktail into the chilled glass
  6. Express the lemon twist over the cocktail and drop it into the glass
  7. Garnish with a cherry, either skewered and balanced on the rim of the glass or dropped into the cocktail

Bamboo

The Bamboo cocktail has a delicate, balanced taste with a hint of sweetness and a touch of dryness. It is light, refreshing, and slightly herbal, making it a perfect choice for an aperitif or a sophisticated afternoon drink.

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Ingredients

  • Dry sherry: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2 dashes
  • Angostura bitters: 2 dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Garnish: 1 cherry

Recipe

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice
  2. Add the dry sherry, dry vermouth, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters
  3. Stir the mixture until well chilled
  4. Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass
  5. Express the lemon twist over the drink and discard
  6. Garnish with a cherry

Alaska

The Alaska Cocktail is a complex and herbal drink, with a slightly sweet and citrusy undertone. It has a strong, bold flavor profile, with a smooth and silky finish.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Yellow chartreuse: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2 dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1 (for garnish)

Recipe

  1. Chill the glass: Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer to chill for at least 10 minutes
  2. Combine ingredients: In a mixing glass, combine the gin, Yellow Chartreuse, and orange bitters
  3. Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir the cocktail for 20-30 seconds, until well chilled and diluted
  4. Strain: Remove the chilled glass from the freezer and strain the cocktail into the glass
  5. Garnish: Express the oils from the lemon twist over the cocktail, and then place the twist on the rim of the glass

Dubonnet Cocktail

The Dubonnet Cocktail offers a delightful balance of flavors, with a slightly bitter, herbal taste from the Dubonnet, complemented by the sweetness of the gin and the zesty notes of the lemon twist. It's a smooth, refreshing, and complex cocktail that leaves a pleasant, lingering aftertaste.

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Ingredients

  • Dubonnet: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Gin: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Orange bitters: 1 dash
  • Ice: As needed

Recipe

  1. Chill a cocktail glass by filling it with ice and water, then set it aside.
  2. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
  3. Add the Dubonnet, gin, and orange bitters to the mixing glass.
  4. Stir the mixture for 20-30 seconds, until well chilled.
  5. Empty the cocktail glass and strain the mixture into the glass.
  6. Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the drink and placing it in the glass.

Heavenly

The Heavenly cocktail is a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, and slightly bitter flavors. It has a velvety texture with a hint of effervescence, making it both refreshing and indulgent. The taste is rich and complex, with notes of citrus, vanilla, and a subtle herbal undertone.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Elderflower liqueur: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Lemon juice: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Simple syrup: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Egg white: 1
  • Prosecco: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Edible gold leaf: 1
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  2. Add the egg white and perform a dry shake (without ice) for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for another 15-20 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
  5. Top with prosecco and gently stir to combine.
  6. Carefully place the edible gold leaf on the surface of the cocktail.
  7. Garnish with a lemon twist, artfully positioned on the rim of the glass.

Jewel

The Jewel cocktail is a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, and slightly bitter flavors. It has a smooth, velvety texture and a refreshing, crisp finish.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Add the gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters to the mixing glass.
  3. Stir the ingredients well, until thoroughly chilled.
  4. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Louisiana

The Louisiana cocktail is a well-balanced mix of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors. It has a smooth, velvety texture with a hint of warmth from the whiskey. The herbal notes from the vermouth and the bitters add complexity to the drink, making it a sophisticated and enjoyable sip.

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Ingredients

  • Rye whiskey: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Sweet vermouth: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Benedictine: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Peychaud's bitters: 2 dashes
  • Angostura bitters: 1 dash
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Ice:

Recipe

  1. In a mixing glass, combine the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud's bitters, and Angostura bitters
  2. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir well until chilled
  3. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the drink and placing it on the rim of the glass

New York

The New York Cocktail has a strong, bold taste with a hint of sweetness. The combination of whiskey, lemon juice, and grenadine creates a balanced flavor profile that is both sour and sweet. The drink is also slightly fruity, with a warming sensation from the whiskey.

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Ingredients

  • Whiskey: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Lemon juice: 0.75 oz(23ml)
  • Grenadine: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Simple syrup: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Cherry or lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
  2. Add whiskey, lemon juice, grenadine, and simple syrup
  3. Shake well until chilled
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
  5. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist

Princeton

The Princeton cocktail has a smooth, balanced taste with a hint of citrus. It is slightly sweet, with a touch of bitterness from the gin and dry vermouth. The orange bitters add a subtle, zesty kick, while the port float gives the drink a rich, velvety finish.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2 dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1
  • Port: 0.5 oz(15ml)

Recipe

  1. Chill the glass: Place a martini glass in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to chill.
  2. Prepare the ingredients: Measure out the gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters.
  3. Mix the cocktail: In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine the gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters. Stir well for 20-30 seconds.
  4. Strain and serve: Strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass.
  5. Add the port float (optional): Carefully pour the port over the back of a spoon to create a float on top of the cocktail.
  6. Garnish: Express the lemon twist over the drink and place it on the rim of the glass.

Saketini

The Saketini has a delicate, smooth, and slightly floral taste with hints of juniper and citrus. It is a well-balanced cocktail that is neither too sweet nor too sour, with a light and refreshing finish.

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Ingredients

  • Sake: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Gin or vodka: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Ice: As needed
  • Cucumber slice or lemon twist: 1 for garnish

Recipe

  1. Chill a martini glass by filling it with ice and water, then set aside.
  2. In a mixing glass, combine 2oz of sake, 1oz of gin or vodka, and 0.5oz of dry vermouth.
  3. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir well to chill and dilute the mixture.
  4. Empty the martini glass and strain the Saketini mixture into the chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with a cucumber slice or lemon twist.

Esquire Martini

The Esquire Martini is a strong, dry cocktail. It has a crisp, clean taste with a hint of bitterness from the vermouth. The gin provides a robust, juniper-forward flavor that is balanced by the subtle sweetness of the orange bitters.

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Ingredients

  • Gin: 2 oz(60ml)
  • Dry vermouth: 1 oz(30ml)
  • Orange bitters: 2 dashes
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.

  2. Add 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of dry vermouth, and 2 dashes of orange bitters.

  3. Stir well until chilled.

  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

  5. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Better and Better

The 'Better and Better' cocktail offers a complex flavor profile. It starts with a smoky punch from the mezcal, followed by the sweet, spicy undertones of the Velvet Falernum, and finishes with the robust, tropical notes of the Jamaican rum. It's a strong, yet balanced drink with a lingering finish.

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Ingredients

  • Velvet falernum liqueur: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Smith and cross jamaican rum: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Fidencio clasico mezcal: 1.5 oz(45ml)
  • Lemon twist: Garnish

Recipe

  1. Prepare the Glass:
    • Use an old-fashioned glass for serving.
  2. Mix Ingredients:
    • Pour 0.25 oz of Velvet Falernum Liqueur into the glass.
    • Add 0.5 oz of Smith and Cross Jamaican Rum.
    • Measure and pour 1.5 oz of Fidencio Clasico Mezcal.
  3. Stir Briefly:
    • Add ice to the glass.
    • Stir the mixture briefly to chill and combine flavors.
  4. Garnish:
    • Express a lemon twist over the drink and place it on the rim or drop it in.

The Conference

The Conference is a rich, full-bodied cocktail with a harmonious blend of sweetness from the Demerara syrup, the warmth of rye and bourbon, and the fruitiness of apple brandy. The cognac adds depth, while the aromatic and chocolate bitters provide a complex, spiced undertone. The citrus twists contribute a bright, zesty finish.

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Ingredients

  • Rye: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Bourbon: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Apple brandy: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Cognac: 0.5 oz(15ml)
  • Demerara syrup: 0.25 oz(8ml)
  • Aromatic bitters: 2 dashes
  • Chocolate bitters: 1 dash
  • Orange twist: 1
  • Lemon twist: 1

Recipe

  1. Add rye, bourbon, apple brandy, cognac, Demerara syrup, aromatic bitters, chocolate bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
  2. Stir for 30-45 seconds.
  3. Strain into a lowball glass over a clear ice cube.
  4. Garnish with an orange twist and a lemon twist.

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