Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
03
Aug 2024
Did you know… the full history behind the iconic lemon drop served at this long-standing Harrogate bar?
It’s a rite of passage for anyone who has lived in and around Harrogate, and a sure sign of a good night out.
Ever since the 80s, many residents and tourists to the town will have visited Montey’s, some even with the specific intention of enjoying the drink its best known for – a lemon drop.
But where did it all begin?
What is a lemon drop?
A lemon drop is a vodka-based cocktail that combines both sweet and sour flavours and is made using vodka, triple sec and fresh lemon juice.
It is typically served straight up – chilled with ice and strained.
When and where was the lemon drop first invented?
It was invented in the 1970s by Norman Jay Hobday at his bar, Henry Africa’s in San Francisco, by a patron who walked into the bar requesting a sweet and savoury drink.
As well as this concoction, Norman also became famed for his bar itself, which was a new take on the drinking establishment. Adorned with ferns and greenery as well as fake Tiffany lamps and homely decorations, he by his own account “took the opium-den atmosphere out of the saloons” in favour of “antique lamps and Grandma’s living-room furniture”.
This type of bar became known as one of the earliest types of ‘fern bars’, a place where people could still meet for socialising, after work events or parties, but also where single people often met other single people.
Such was the dedication Norman had to his bar, he legally changed his name to that of his establishment: Henry Africa.
How are lemon drops made?
They were originally served as a straight-up cocktail, mixing vodka, triple sec and fresh lemon juice, shaked over ice and served in a martini glass. Over the years the drink has undergone several transformations, including a phase when it was popular to serve as a shot rather than a cocktail.
Countless variations of the drink also exist, including using different fruits such as raspberries and blueberries, along with flavoured vodkas.
How did Montey’s become Harrogate’s go-to bar for the cocktail?
The establishment that’s well-known for them is Montey’s, located at 3 The Ginnel.
It was opened by Jay Smith in 1996 who’s still running it today.
Montey's bar
Although the exact recipe for a Montey’s lemon drop is a secret, Jay has concocted various iterations over the years before finding what he believes to be the perfect serve.
Jay says:
We’ve been making them since the late 90s.
We thought the lemon drop would be a fun addition if we could perfect it and would give us something unique to offer.
At that time most shots were quite basic and consisted of one or two ingredients poured directly into a shot glass. We’ve tweaked the recipe once or twice since the late 90s but in essence it’s been on our menu for more than 20 years now.
On average we sell around 60,000 of them a year, and we have people who pop in for one on their way for dinner.
A Montey’s customer Deborah Anderson said about them:
If you like sherbet lemons, you have to try Montey’s lemon drop shooters, they’re delicious.
Lemon drops from Montey's
Phil Robinson added:
You can’t go to Montey’s without having a lemon drop, it just wouldn’t be right.
Have you tried one? Comment below...
The Stray Ferret subscribers can receive exclusive offers and discounts, click here to find the extensive list, many of which include food and drink.
0