Cocktail Hour: Lemon Drop Martini

It's Christmassy, I'm typing away on the sofa under a blanket and for the next two weeks, I'm going to feel like I'm in a little bit of a snoozy half-coma. Which is all well and good, until I forget what day it is. So instead of giving into the snoozing (there's two more weeks for that), I've decided that this cocktail is the best way to pep me up. Sharp, strong and just enough of a tang to keep me awake for the next Christmas film.

You'll need:

• 75ml vodka - the good stuff
• 25ml orange liqueur (Cointreau is best for this - it stays clear).
• 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar (and some to dip the glass in).
• Juice of one lemon
• Ice
• Lemon peel to garnish

Shake it!

Add the vodka, fine sugar, lemon juice and orange liqueur to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake shake shake shake - that superfine sugar needs to dissolve unless you want a bitty drink. Pour into a sugar-rimmed martini glass and garnish with the lemon peel. Drink, wake up a bit and have yourself another mince pie.

Flickr image from waferboard's photostream.