A quick cocktail history:
The lychee martini emerged during the rise of flavored martinis in trendy bars during the 1990s. The drink that I’ve recreated here is credited to the Sake Bar Decibel in NYC, but even they acknowledge the drink’s already-established popularity in Tokyo bars.
The lychee, a fruit native to Southeast Asia, brought a unique, tropical flair to the mix, and the martini quickly gained a reputation as chic and modern. Today, it’s a staple on cocktail menus worldwide, and it’s a favorite for those who love to experiment with sweet and floral flavors.
If you’ve never tried a lychee cocktail, this is a great one to get started with.
More Asian-inspired cocktails: Tokyo iced tea / ginger saketini / Polynesian pearl diver / yuzu margarita
Ingredients & substitutions
- Vodka – Whenever I make martinis, I try to use the best liquor available to me. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something smooth that you enjoy drinking.
- Lychee syrup – This comes from a can of lychees. You could make your own, but the can of lychees comes with a ready-made syrup, so why waste it.
- St. Germain – I chose to use St. Germain instead of a different liqueur, but I thought about using Cointreau or Chambord for a fruitier option.
- Sake – Instead of white vermouth, I opted for a dry sake. It’s a similar ingredient, but the flavors pair really well with lychee.
- Lemon juice – I added this for a little flavor pop. Normally I would suggest fresh citrus is best, but since this is such a small amount, I think bottled could work. If you have fresh, definitely use it.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
mel’s cocktail tips & tricks
- Chill the glass. A chilled glass keeps your drink frosty and refreshing, but it’s
- Customize your drink. Want a less sweet version? Reduce the lychee syrup and let the vodka shine. Swap the vodka for gin for a more floral option, or swap your liqueur for something a little fruiter – think Chambord or Cointreau.
More martini recipes: blueberry lemon drop martini / chocolate cake martini / passionfruit martini / caramel apple martini
More vodka cocktails: cherry vodka sour / blackberry vodka fizz / orange crush cocktail / lemon drop shot
Lychee Martini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce lychee syrup, from canned lychees
- 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
- 1/2 ounce sake, or white vermouth
- 1/4 ounce lemon juice
- For garnish: 1 lychee
Instructions
- Shake your cocktail. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, lychee syrup, elderflower liqueur, sake and lemon juice. Cover and shake until well chilled, about 30 seconds.
- Garnish and serve. Strain cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lychee on a cocktail pick.
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