From Cosmos to Lemon Drops: 10 Recipes That Prove '90s Martinis Are Back (2024)

FAQs

What was the co*cktail culture in the 1990s? ›

Those drinks from the 1980s and 1990s—the Cosmo, Fuzzy Navels, Lemon Drops, various iterations of the Martini, Sex on the Beach, even Tequila Sunrises—never entirely went away outside of the craft co*cktail bubble. At the very start of the 2000s, flavored Martini dens were still all the rage in New York City.

But, by some accounts, the Lychee Martini made waves at least as early as 1993, the year Decibel opened in the East Village with a lychee syrup–flavored vodka Martini.

The only spirits needed for this recipe are vodka and triple sec, which is an orange-flavored liqueur. For a splurge, look for Cointreau, which is a high-quality French triple sec. Other than that, all that's needed are lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best) and simple syrup.

The lemon drop beverage was created by a man named Norman Jay Hobday at his bar, Henry Africa's, sometime during the 1970's. Norman originally served the drink in a co*cktail glass. The drink got its name from lemon drop candies that have a similar sweet and sour flavor.

Cosmopolitan. The co*cktail that more than any other defines the decade, the Cosmopolitan was created in 1988 by Toby Cecchini but it was Dale DeGroff that perfected the Cosmo in 1996 and, with the help of both Madonna and Sex In The City, made it a huge hit.

Perhaps that's why drinks from this era are so ingrained in mainstream memory. Consider fruity, vodka-based co*cktails like the Appletini, Sex on The Beach, Skyy Vodka Martini and gin and juice. Often neon-hued and brashly-flavored, these beverages weren't subtle in any sense of the word.

The shot version of a lemon drop doesn't typically include orange liqueur. But Triple Sec or Cointreau is a classic addition to a lemon drop martini.

A Cosmopolitan or Cosmo co*cktail is a drink made with GREY GOOSE® L'Orange Flavored Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice. It is often served in a martini co*cktail glass, but that alone doesn't make it a martini co*cktail. To be considered a vodka martini co*cktail, the drink must contain vodka and vermouth.

With A Twist

If you'd like your martini with lemon instead of olives (and no olive brine), ask for it with a twist.

What was the alcoholic lemon drink in the 90s? ›

Hooch is the good-time, no stress, original alcoholic lemon brew. It began life in the 90s – totally shaking up the scene. Relaunched in 2012, it's a classic still beloved by its original drinkers, whilst a new generation of ravers and misbehavers have fallen for that iconic Hooch zing.

The term lemons or lemon drops is being used as slang for a new street drug making the rounds as of late. When you're talking about drugs, lemons (or lemon drops) usually refer to a mixture of dextromethorphan (DXM) and lemonade powder.

A forerunner of the lemon drop is the Salem Gibraltar, and created in 1806. Modern lemon drops, like most hard candies we know today, descend from ancient medicinal lozenges. 18th century advances in sugar technology made hard sugar concoctions possible.

A blend of vodka, white wine, spices and the juice of tropical fruits. This '90s classic is best enjoyed over ice with lemonade.