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How to make a Japanese version of the classic Lemon Drop cocktail

By Mark Stock Sep 30, 2025 11:06 AM

Haku Yuzu Drop. — Haku Yuzu

It’s the last day of September and we’ve got a cocktail to share before some people start digging into Sober October drinks. This one is a twist on a classic and offers the bracing grapefruit-like notes of yuzu. All you need is a bottle of the infused spirit and a few key bartending tools.

We got a cool recipe from the folks at Haku Yuzu. The vodka is made with yuzu harvested from the coastal mountains of Japan. It’s an international take on a classic Lemon Drop cocktail and we’re enjoying how lively it is in the glass. Turns out, yuzu has been harvested in Japan for well over a thousand years.

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So, whether you’re looking for something to mix up next time you’re hosting friends or just a good nightcap cocktail to round out the day, the Haku Lemon Drop is a prime option. It looks good. And it tastes good.

Read on for the full recipe.

Haku Lemon Drop

This cocktail sizzles with the bright notes of yuzu mostly taking the place of lemon, making it a little more interesting.

Ingredients:

2 parts Haku Yuzu
3⁄4 part simple syrup
1⁄2 part lemon juice
1⁄4 part yuzu Juice
Lemon twist or dried yuzu for garnish

Method:

Rub a lemon wedge half around the rim of a martini glass and dip it in sugar.
In a shaker with ice, combine Haku Yuzu, simple syrup, lemon juice, and yuzu juice.
Shake well and strain into the prepared glass, garnishing with a lemon twist or dried yuzu garnish.

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since… Read Full Bio

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