Lychee Martini
A lychee martini is a shaken cocktail built around vodka (or sometimes sake), lychee liqueur, and the sweet floral syrup from canned lychees, strained into a martini glass and garnished with a whole lychee. It isn't a true martini in the gin-and-vermouth sense, it belongs to the family of fruit martinis (like the appletini or cosmopolitan) that borrow the glass and the shaken, up presentation but not the classic formula. The flavor leans sweet, floral, and slightly tart, closer to a dessert cocktail than a spirit-forward one.
Varieties
Some bars serve a lychee martini closer to a cosmopolitan, adding cranberry juice and lime for tartness, while others keep it purely lychee and vodka for a sweeter, simpler drink. Neither version is more correct than the other; the name covers a range of ratios rather than one fixed recipe.
Buying tips
Fresh lychees are only in season briefly, typically late spring through mid-summer, so canned lychees in syrup are the standard choice year-round and work fine in the syrup itself. For liqueur, Soho and Giffard both make widely available lychee liqueurs; check the label since some are noticeably sweeter than others, which affects how much simple syrup or juice you'll want to add.
Substitutes
Canned lychee syrup plus extra vodka — 1:1, plus an additional 1/2 oz vodka
The syrup canned lychees sit in has the right sweetness and floral flavor but no alcohol, so add extra vodka to make up for the liqueur's kick.
St-Germain (elderflower liqueur) — 1:1
Swaps lychee's tropical sweetness for a more floral, honeyed profile; works well if you're also using fresh lychee fruit for garnish and flavor.
Rose syrup with a splash of vodka — 3/4 part rose syrup to 1 part liqueur, plus a splash of vodka
Rose syrup is more intensely floral than lychee liqueur, so use slightly less and dilute with extra vodka to keep the drink from tasting like perfume.
Unsweetened bottled lychee juice with simple syrup — Use lychee juice as the base and add simple syrup to taste
A lower-sugar option for people who want the fruit flavor without a liqueur; balance varies by brand of juice so add syrup a teaspoon at a time.
Storage
Opened cans of lychees keep in their syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about a week. Lychee liqueur, like most liqueurs, doesn't need refrigeration and keeps for a year or more in a sealed bottle away from direct light, though flavor is best within the first six months once opened. Bottled lychee juice should be refrigerated after opening and used within a week.
How to use
Shaken hard with ice and strained into a chilled martini glass is the standard preparation. Variations include topping it with a splash of prosecco or sparkling wine (sometimes called a lychee bellini martini), adding a few drops of rose water for extra floral depth, or muddling fresh lychee flesh into the shaker for a chunkier, more textured version.
What it pairs with
The sweetness and floral notes pair well with savory, salty, or spicy food, dim sum, sushi, Thai or Vietnamese appetizers, and salty snacks like edamame or spring rolls that cut through the sugar.
Nutrition
A standard lychee martini runs roughly 180 to 220 calories per serving, most of it from the sugar in the syrup and liqueur rather than the vodka itself. Using unsweetened lychee juice and less syrup lowers the sugar load noticeably.
FAQ
Does a lychee martini contain gin?
No. It's almost always made with vodka rather than gin, since gin's botanicals tend to clash with the fruit's floral sweetness.
Can you make a lychee martini without liqueur?
Yes. Use vodka, the syrup from a can of lychees, and a squeeze of lime, adjusting sweetness with simple syrup since the liqueur normally supplies both sugar and extra floral flavor.
Why is a lychee martini pink or pale colored?
The color comes from the lychee liqueur and syrup themselves, both of which have a naturally pale pink to golden hue; some recipes add a few drops of grenadine or cranberry juice for a deeper pink.
Is there a non-alcoholic version?
Yes, sometimes called a virgin lychee martini, made with lychee juice or syrup, a splash of soda water or tonic, and lime juice, shaken and served in the same glass.
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