We report a novel nanosecond laser ablation synthesis for spherical gold nanoparticles as small as 4 nm in only 5 s (532 nm, 0.66 J/cm(2)), where the desired protecting agent can be selected in a protocol that avoids repeated sample irradiation and undesired exposure of the capping agent during ablation. This method takes advantage of the recently developed synthesis of clean unprotected polymorph and polydisperse gold nanostructures using H(2)O(2) as a reducing agent. The laser drop technique provides a unique tool for delivering controlled laser doses to small drops that undergo assisted fall into a solution or suspension of the desired capping agent, yielding monodisperse custom-derivatized composite materials using a simple technique.