'it' shot: Swedish Lemonade

Patricia Nelson's Swedish Lemonade is the perfect way to get drunk

By Alexandra Le Tellier, Metromix

Just because shots are tiny and meant to be pounded in one gulp doesn’t mean they should taste bad. I’ll always pass over a shot of generic tequila in favor of a lemon drop or kamikaze—in fact, I rather like the idea of a really strong, concentrated cocktail. For a take on the traditional lemon drop, you have to taste Patricia Nelson’s Swedish Lemonade. The bartender, who works at Broadway Bar Thursday through Saturday, has become known around Downtown for her sweet-and-tart concoction.

Try this at home: 

1 1⁄2 ounces of Absolut Citron Vodka
½ ounce of triple sec
Half an ounce of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Half an ounce on simple syrup
Splash of cranberry juice for color

Serve it up in a sugar-rimmed shot glass and you’re good to go. Or, better yet, make it in a jug and bring it to barbecues. "It's a big hit," says Nelson. "But it can be kind of dangerous because you can't taste the vodka at all."

Alexandra Le Tellier is Bars & Clubs editor for Metromix Los Angeles.