The drink was invented sometime in the 1970s by Norman Jay Hobday, the founder and proprietor of Henry Africa's bar in San Francisco, California.

Variations of the drink exist, such as blueberry and raspberry lemon drops, and some recipes that call for simple syrup.

[10][11][12] Cointreau-brand triple sec is used in some versions, and it may be prepared using a simple syrup that has been infused with lemon juice.

[16][17][18] The lemon drop was invented sometime in the 1970s by Norman Jay Hobday, the founder and proprietor of Henry Africa's, a fern bar in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California that opened in 1969.

Variations of the drink include lemon drops prepared with blueberries and raspberries, which may use vodkas or other liquors flavored with these respective berries.

[4] On 18 September 2024, in an interview with journalist Amol Rajan on BBC Two, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir John Major, revealed that he was partial to the occasional Lemon Drop cocktail.[relevant?]