Lychee Martini Recipe
Vodka, lychee and a touch of lime, served ice cold.
The Lychee Martini is a shaken cocktail of vodka, lychee liqueur and lychee juice or syrup, served up with a whole lychee. It is floral, lightly sweet and fragrant, and it is one of the most popular cocktails in modern Asian restaurants and bars around the world.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Vodka
- 20 ml Lychee liqueur Such as Kwai Feh or Soho
- 30 ml Lychee juice Or the syrup from a can of lychees
- 10 ml Fresh lime juice
- 1 Lychee Fresh or canned, for the garnish
Garnish: Whole lychee
How to Make a Lychee Martini
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- Add the vodka, lychee liqueur, lychee juice and lime juice to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
- Double strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a whole lychee on a pick.
Best Bottles for a Lychee Martini in India
Clean and neutral so the lychee leads
Soft texture for a silky Martini
Good value for parties
For a gin Lychee Martini
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Lychee Martini
- Canned lychees in syrup are the easiest source of both the juice and the garnish.
- A little lime juice stops the drink from tasting flat and perfumed.
- No lychee liqueur? Use 10ml more vodka and 20ml more lychee syrup.
About the Lychee Martini
The Lychee Martini appeared in New York in the 1990s, during the boom in flavoured "martinis" that also produced the Appletini and popularised the Cosmopolitan. Several Manhattan venues are credited with early versions, and no single inventor has been confirmed.
Lychee is native to southern China and has been cultivated there for more than two thousand years. Its perfume, somewhere between rose and grape, carries well in a cold, neutral spirit, which is why vodka is the usual base.
The drink spread with modern Asian restaurants through London, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai and became a house cocktail at many of them. Lychee has trended again in the mid-2020s as bars look to Asian fruit flavours such as yuzu and lychee.
Lychee Martini Variations
- Gin Lychee Martini: gin adds a botanical edge to the floral fruit.
- Lychee Rose Martini: add 2 drops of rose water.
- Lychee Sake Martini: replace half the vodka with sake.
- Sparkling Lychee: top with a splash of prosecco.
- Passion Fruit Martini: the tropical vodka alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Lychee Martini?
How strong is a Lychee Martini?
Can you use canned lychees for a Lychee Martini?
What does a Lychee Martini taste like?
Is a Lychee Martini made with vodka or gin?
What can you use instead of lychee liqueur?
About the Author
Quick Facts
More Cocktails
