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Lychee Martini Recipe with Vodka
- 4 mins total
- 2 mins prep
- 2 mins cook
- serves 2 people
Skip To The Recipe
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Lychee Martini is so yummy! Strange to use the term yummy for a martini; however, once you try this recipe, I know you will mutter the same words.
I was first introduced to lychee martini during one of our trips to the East coast. I replicated it at home by following and reading so many recipes, all with the same ingredients.
Good but not great for me, and wanted to make something a bit different.
I love a martini, and I am very picky about how it is served. For instance, I do not like to let it sit in the ice cubes, not crushed ice, for too long. I do not care how the water dilutes the vodka. All the flavor is lost.
It is one of my favorite cocktails, straight, stirred, with fruits or not.
I am a traditionalist, and my martini must be served in a classic martini glass that is thin, tall, and with a wide mouth.
What is lychee?
Tropical fruit from the southeastern provinces of China. It has a unique appearance and flavor. A deliciously sweet fruit covered by a rough, bright strawberry-red color outer rind.
Once peeled inside, you will find this almost translucent, very juicy, white flesh fruit and the seed. A delightful flavor.
Eaten fresh, it is also canned as well as dried.
Easy to peel with your fingers, you can start nibbling on the flesh and suck it from the internal seed.
Refreshing often occurs at the end of a meal in China and throughout Asia.
Delicious when lychees are added to fruit salads.
In this recipe, I used lychee juice in place of simple syrup. If you are using fresh lychees, if you are fortunate to find them at your grocery store, then you will want to make some simple syrup to give it that sweetness.
Why Grand Marnier?
I love the smoothness of the Grand Marnier. Added with the Vodka, it brings a balance between the sweetness of the lychee syrup and the stronger flavor of the vodka.
When you sip it, you will enjoy the less alcoholic taste of the vodka, but a smoother, not sweeter, drink.
Vodka or Gin?
I love both. I will always gravitate towards vodka, Grey Goose, as my first choice. If none is available, then I select Bombay Sapphire Gin.
I love how clean and smooth the flavor of each is. Use your favorite, gin or vodka, making sure that it is not mixed with any other flavors, or fruits, or will interfere with the light flavor of the lychee.
Tips for a perfect Lychee Martini
Although this is an extremely simple recipe, I have a couple of suggestions for you on how to make a lychee martini:
- I purchased the lychees, peeled and pitted in heavy syrup. The unused portion can store well in the refrigerator.
- If you wish for a stronger vodka taste for your lychees, take them out of their natural juice and store them for a couple of days covered with vodka or gin. Do not overindulge.
- Use ice cubes, not crushed ice, when shaking all the ingredients. When shaken, ice cubes will give it that coldness, you are looking for. The crushed ice will dilute your drink.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes with no room for them to move around. If the ice cubes move around too much when you shake them, you will have ice fragments lost in your drinks, which in turn will water down your drink.
- If you have time, place your martini glasses inside the freezer for a few minutes before serving. The cold glass is always welcome but not necessary.
- The lychees fruits are delicious every way you choose to serve them in your cocktail. Either drop two in your glass prior to filling it. Or use a cocktail pick, pass them thru, and either places them over the rim or inside your drink. Whatever you do, enjoy them.
- Do not have a martini shaker? Use a jar with a seal-tight top.
No need to use a simple syrup either. The syrup from the lychee is quite sweet and gives you such a wonderful flavor to it.
With all alcoholic beverages, please use them in moderation and do not drink and drive.
A fantastic drink to be enjoyed now during the holiday season, as well as all year long. Have a few nuts, dry fruits, chips as they do in Europe, or a beautiful platter of appetizers to enjoy while you are sipping on this cocktail.
More delicious recipes to try
Pomegranate Martini. Stir Or Shaken?
Parmesan and Shallot Risotto – Yummy!
I do love what I do! Where else can you have a drink at work and have lots of fun doing it? After all, it is 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
Equipment and ingredients used to prepare this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Lychee Martini
Amount Per Serving
Calories 253
Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 39mg1%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 14mg17%
Calcium 1mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Lychee Martini
- 4 mins total
- 2 mins prep
- 2 mins cook
- serves 2 people
Instructions
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Place your martini glasses in the freezer a couple of minutes before serving, optional.
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In a martini shaker add the vodka, Grand Marnier, lychee syrup, and fill with ice cubes. Shake vigorously for a couple of seconds.
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Pour into 2 martini glasses and garnish with two lychees per glass.
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This cocktail hit the spot!! Love lychee anything!!
I am so happy you liked it.
I’ve never had lychee before! I will have to look for it in my local grocery store – this sounds delicious!
You will get hooked once you have your first one 🙂
Enjoy!
I loved the Grand Marnier in this, it worked perfectly with the Lychee! The perfect cocktail to end the day/start the night
Absolutely! Cheers!
Yummy martini! Thank you for this delicious recipe!
My pleasure, Enjoy it!
Perfect to serve this coming Holiday season!
THank you!
Yum! Added to my Christmas list (for my partner to make, LOL!) I love fresh lychees; I expect they would go well too.
Make sure you make some simple syrup if you use fresh lychee, you need the sweetness of the syrup to make it a bit sweeter.
Enjoy and Cheers!
We absolutely love lychee and this cocktail was so delicious. Loved how it wasn’t overly sweet!
Thank you, Cindy! That was one of my concerns when I was creating it, I did not want it to be too sweet. It took a while and I am happy with the result and I am happy you enjoyed it as well.
Happy Holidays!
This looks absolutely wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed the live show yesterday, and am planning to make this on New Year’s eve.
I enjoyed our show as well and I am happy you will make it on New Year’s Eve.
Cheers!
I’ve just bought some lychee so this is the perfect recipe to make with it. Such a unique drink!
Unique and quite delicious too.
Enjoy and Cheers!
I’ve never heard of or seen lychee before. This would make a great drink to unwind in the evening.
Absolutely! Not too sweet with the perfect hind of vodka.
Enjoy!
Yum! I have never tried lychee before but this was great! I loved all the flavors of the martini and it was such a fun drink to make!
THank you! I am so happy you enjoyed it.
Lychees are my fav this drink was amazing!!!!
Thank you so much, Julie. I am glad you enjoyed it
everyone loved this cocktail at the party!
I am so happy everyone enjoyed it.
This martini is delicious but also refreshing! A great way to unwind on a Friday night.
Absolutely!
Enjoy!
Absolutely loved this cocktail! I remember eating lychees when I was a child and haven’t had them since. This martini was definitely the grown-up way to enjoy them.
Thank you!
This really does sound incredibly yummy! Cheers!
Cheers! Enjoy it!
My friends always compete who is gonna make the best coctail at our gatherings, lol. Your lychee martini took all the glory at our party, so thank you!
The pleasure is all mine, I am glad you enjoyed it.
I love a lychee martini and this recipe is spot on! Cheers!
Cheers to you and enjoy it
Wow what a fancy drink. I love lychee anything
Thank you!
Oh I love lychees!! This martini was incredible! I made it when I had some friends in town, and everyone loved it!
Thank you for your feedback, I am so happy everyone enjoyed it.
This drink was sensational. Definitely we will make it again for our next party!
Thank you! I am so happy you enjoyed it.
We had some guests over yesterday and made this Martini. It was an absolut hit
Thank you for your feedback. I am happy everyone enjoyed it