Lychee Martini Recipe

Before you start

A lychee martini is a fruit-driven vodka cocktail that tastes of rose, pear and grape, the floral flavors of ripe lychee. It became popular in American bars in the 1990s and 2000s, especially at pan-Asian restaurants. Many versions are syrupy and overly sweet; this one uses a little dry vermouth and a few milliliters of lime to keep it crisp.

Canned lychees make this drink easy. The fruit becomes the garnish, and its packing syrup supplies both flavor and sugar. A lychee liqueur adds depth that the syrup alone cannot. Shake it cold and serve it up in a small glass, because the delicate aroma fades as the drink warms.

Ingredients

• 45 ml (1½ oz) vodka
• 15 ml (½ oz) lychee liqueur — such as Soho or Kwai Feh
• 20 ml (about ⅔ oz) lychee syrup — from a can of lychees in syrup
• 7 ml (¼ oz) dry vermouth
• 5 ml (1 tsp) fresh lime juice
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes — for shaking
• 2 canned lychees — on a pick, for the garnish

Method

1. Chill the glass and refrigerate the can of lychees ahead of time, so both the garnish and the syrup are cold.
2. Measure the vodka, lychee liqueur, lychee syrup, dry vermouth and lime juice into the shaker.
3. Fill the shaker two-thirds with ice and shake for 10 to 12 seconds, until the tin is frosted.
4. Double-strain into the chilled glass. The drink should be almost clear with a faint haze.
5. Thread two lychees onto a pick and rest it in the glass. Serve at once.

Tips for success

• Taste the canned syrup first. Brands vary from light to very sweet; adjust the measure up or down by 5 ml.
• Tuck a raspberry inside one of the lychees on the pick for a striking red-and-white garnish.
• Keep leftover lychees and syrup covered in the fridge for a second round within a few days.

Substitutions

Lychee liqueur

Leave it out and use 30 ml lychee syrup. The drink is lighter and a little less fragrant.

Vodka

A floral, gentle gin turns it into a lychee gin martini; the juniper and rose notes pair well.

Dry vermouth

Use 7 ml of Lillet Blanc for a softer, honeyed finish, or omit it for a sweeter drink.

Variations

Lychee rose

Add 2 drops of rose water to the shaker. Go carefully; too much tastes soapy.

Troubleshooting

It is sickly sweet

Reduce the lychee syrup to 10 ml and add 5 ml more lime or 5 ml more dry vermouth.

It tastes of nothing but vodka

The syrup was light or the liqueur missing. Add 10 ml more syrup and use a mild vodka.

It looks cloudy

Some haze is normal from the syrup. Double-straining removes the ice crystals that make it look milky.

Storage

Serve straight after shaking. Once a can of lychees is opened, move the fruit and syrup to a covered container, refrigerate, and use within 3 to 4 days. Refrigerate opened vermouth.

Safety notes

Contains about 45 ml of 40% ABV vodka plus liqueur and vermouth, about 1.3 U.S. standard drinks (one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). Serve only to adults of legal drinking age, and do not drink and drive.