Lychee Martini
This Lychee Martini is fragrant, icy, and elegantly tropical, with juicy lychee sweetness lifted by floral elderflower and a sharp squeeze of lime. The finish is smooth and clean, making it an easy yet impressive cocktail for a dinner party or aperitif.
Ingredients
Cocktail mix
- 120 mlvodka
- 120 mllychee juice
- 30 mlelderflower liqueur
- 20 mlfresh lime juice
- 200 gice cubes
Garnish
- 2whole lychees, drained
- 1 tsplime zest
Instructions
- 1
Chill 2 martini glasses in the freezer for 3-5 minutes if possible. Juice the lime if not already juiced, and prepare the garnish by draining the lychees. A cold glass keeps the drink crisp longer and helps maintain the proper dilution.
- 2
Fill a cocktail shaker with the ice cubes. Pour in the vodka, lychee juice, elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice.
- 3
Shake hard for 12-15 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold on the outside. This both chills and lightly dilutes the cocktail, balancing the sweetness of the lychee and elderflower.
- 4
Strain evenly into the chilled martini glasses. Garnish each glass with 1 lychee and a tiny pinch of lime zest. Serve immediately.
Nutrition per serving
Notes
- •For the best flavor, use unsweetened lychee juice or juice from good-quality canned lychees; if using a very sweet juice, increase the lime juice by 5 ml.
- •If you prefer a slightly lighter drink, add 20-30 ml cold water to the shaker before shaking.
- •A classic garnish is a skewered lychee; for a more aromatic finish, express the lime zest over the glass before adding it.
Background
The lychee martini is a modern cocktail that became popular in Asian-inspired bars and hotel lounges in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In Thai-style versions, tropical lychee and bright lime are paired to echo flavors commonly found in Thai drinks and desserts, while elderflower adds a contemporary floral note.
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